fp Turks and Caicos

Three women who travelled recently to locations with outbreaks of dengue fever have been diagnosed with the infection since their return to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Ministry of Health confirmed Aug. 8.

“The cases are believed to have been imported as all the infected persons travelled recently (within the past week) to Dengue endemic locations,” the ministry said.

Two women were treated and released, while a third was hospitalized and responding well to intravenous fluid hydration, the ministry said.
Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes, so people are warned to take steps to prevent sources of standing water around their homes and businesses where mosquitoes can breed.

Not all mosquitoes in the TCI can transmit dengue, which is spread only by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

Symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden fever with headache, muscle and severe joint pains and rash. Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness that can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults are usually sicker than young children.

There is no specific treatment for dengue. Persons with dengue fever should rest and drink plenty of fluids. They should be kept away from mosquitoes that might spread the infection to others.

Some dengue infections can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is treated by replacing lost fluids. Some patients may need transfusions to control bleeding.

The Ministry’s Environmental Health and Public Health teams have taken and will continue to take the following priority precautionary measures:

• Conduct daily active surveillance in the homes of the dengue suspected and confirmed cases.
• Follow-up with all suspected and confirmed dengue cases.
• Conduct mosquito breeding surveillance of possible breeding grounds/sites around homes of confirmed/suspected cases.
• Institute measures such as fogging and larvae ciding to disrupt mosquito breeding.
• Ensure that the Public Health Team is informed of any suspected dengue fever cases to ensure patient education and follow-up upon discharge.
• Submit serum sample/blood samples for confirmatory testing and follow-up to facilitate the complete process.
• Follow-up with Caribbean Epidemiology Centre/Pan American Health Organization for timely serum/blood results and consultation as necessary.
• Circulate health education messages via all available mediums  to increase public awareness about dengue fever and encourage the public to take protective actions. Public meetings have been held to help people understand ways to prevent dengue fever.

Keep TCI dengue free

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is asking the public to take the following precautions to prevent the spread of dengue fever and minimize its complications:

• Know the signs and symptoms of dengue fever (high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain)
• Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any signs of dengue fever
• Avoid mosquito bites when traveling to areas where Dengue occurs
• Eliminate mosquito breeding sites (get rid of stagnant water as it quickly becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes; check gutters, cover drums/barrels; change water for potted plants every 2-3 days)
• Use mosquito repellents on skin and clothing
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks when outdoors during times that mosquitoes are biting
• Avoid heavily populated residential areas
• Stay in air-conditioned or screened areas when indoors
• Use bed nets if sleeping areas are not screened or air-conditioned
• Report your travel history to your doctor if you have symptoms of dengue
• Ensure your windows and doors are closed tightly and be sure to fix screens on windows and doors to prevent indoor mosquito invasions
• Call Environmental Health Department to treat large bodies of stagnant water on or around your property.