Four catch dengue in Cayman
(CNS): Updated — Government officials have confirmed that four cases of dengue fever have been contracted locally and there could be more. Dr Kiran Kumar, the medical officer of health, said Thursday that of seven recent cases only three had reported a travel history to endemic countries, meaning the remaining cases were contracted here in the Cayman Islands. The senior publichealth expert urged everyone to take precautions against getting bitten but not to panic. The MRCU has stepped up its operations, especially in the West Bay area where the patients that have contracted dengue came from, which the director of the unit said is proving to be effective.
“While there are only a few confirmed cases, there is a possibility that there are some persons with mild dengue symptoms who have not sought medical attention,” he said. “I am therefore requesting that our residents be alert, take preventative measures, and do not panic. The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) has been informed of all cases under investigation in order that adequate mosquito control measures can be taken.”
Dr Kumar explained that for the Aedes aegypti mosquito to transmit dengueit must bite an infected person and then bite others. The local mosquitoes are not carrying the disease but have themselves picked up the dengue from an infected individual. “It is essential for everyone to avoid mosquito bites by covering up during the late afternoon when the dengue carrier, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is at its peak,” Dr Kumar added.
With what may only be a very small number of infected mosquitoes on Grand Cayman responsible for passing on the dengue fever, the MRCU is working hard to ensure that the Aedes aegypti numbers are kept down. The MRCU are focusing their efforts in West Bay in addition to the regular schedule of aerial spraying and misting.
“I want to assure the public that the Mosquito Research & Control Unit has already intensified its efforts in the areas where most of the cases were confirmed, and since Monday included aerial operations, ground spraying, thermal fogging and larviciding, in their operations," said Dr William Petrie, the director at the MRCU.
“Since the first detection of dengue in West Bay, ground control operations have continued on a daily basis, against both larval and adult mosquitoes. All areas around confirmed and suspected Dengue cases have now been treated,” he added.
Work crews have carried out thermal-fogging of a 600 meter radius around the patient's residence and a nearby school was surveyed and treated as well as all yards in the area. Following this initial treatment, MRCU work crews have continued thermal fogging and to date have treated an area of over 400 acres in the Birch Tree Hill area in West Bay.
In addition to thermal fogging and larval control, the area was treated with a truck mounted cold fog sprayer on the evening of 11 October and the morning of 12 October. Aerial control operations, which were added to supplement ground control, began on 15 October once weather and environmental conditions were suitable, the MRCU stated.
Aerial control operations using Mosquito-Mist adulticide spray commenced on 15 October and initial case studies showed the treatment to be effective at killing adult mosquitoes.
Dr. Petrie said MRCU routinely sprays and carries out control operations against the mosquito long before the locally contracted case of Dengue.
“MRCU will maintain control activities in the area to ensure that transmission of the virus has been interrupted. Aerial control operations will continue on a twice weekly basis at 5:0 pm in the West Bay area and the success of these missions will be monitored by cage study trials and monitoring the larval population.
Cayman has had a limited number of locally contracted cases in the past. Officials said that in 2010, there were 61 dengue investigations, resulting in seven confirmed dengue cases, four of whom had no travel history. In 2011, there were 21 investigations, two were confirmed positive, and one of whom had no travel history. As of 12 October this year, 26 cases have been investigated with seven now confirmed; another eight people came up negative and results are pending for the remaining eleven.
So far this year, 17 of 23 Caribbean countries have reported over 1,500 confirmed dengue fever cases. According to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) Surveillance Report, as of August 2012, Belize, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica and Curacao account for approximately 87% of the cases reported in the region. Recently, Jamaica reported 1215 suspected dengue cases and five suspected deaths. About half of the suspected dengue cases have occurred in the areas of Kingston and St. Andrew.
Anyone travelling to endemic areas is advised to avoid mosquito bites, and if they develop dengue symptoms within two to three weeks of returning home should consult their physician and tell the doctor about their travel history.
Following news of the four confirmed cases of dengue in Cayman and just ahead of the National Health Conference, Health Minister Mark Scotland said he was pleased that the necessary steps are being taken by the Public Health department and MRCU.
“I encourage every resident to do their part and ensure that all containers and other items that can store water are removed from their yards in order to discourage the breeding of the mosquitoes,” he said.
For more advice on mosquito control, contact MRCU on 949-2557 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2223 in Cayman Brac; and DEH on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac.
See dengue fever fact sheet below.
Category: Health
Neem Tree Oil (sold at Kirks) is a powerful anti mosquito natural protection (let alone a great medicine for most skin conditions). The smell is bad some say (mosquitoes don't like it either), but to me it smells like fried onions. Mix it with carrier oil. Essential oils so much more powerful against mosquitoes and safe for people. CatNip and another one, but I could not find it in Cayman. The following are my favorite anti-mosquito picks if you can’t stand Neem Tree Oil: lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, clove oil and tea tree. Remember to dilute essential oils before applying:
Mosquito Repellent Plants:
There are several plants that naturally repel mosquitoes. You can plant them in your yard or place pots with these plants in your house or on your porch to discourage mosquitoes from coming around.
Mosquito Repelling Plants:
· Ageratum
· Catnip
· Citronella
· Horsemint
· Marigolds
Here are more oils that are mosquito repellents:
o castor oil
o catnip oil
o cedarwood oil
o cinnamon oil
o citronella oil
o eucalyptus oil
o geranium oil
o lemongrass oil
o peppermint oil
o rosemary oil
o tea tree oil
The fact sheet is a good read. Having suffered dengue twice in my life. first case mild second case was awful. Its begins as if you are getting the flu and slowly gets worse. So be vigilint when you get the fever and muscle symptoms of a regular flu. The rash does not usually appear till the later stages so dont think if you cant see a visible red rash you are dengue free. And the most important thing for prevention people need to understand is this type of mosquito that carries dengue is A DAYTIME BITER. It has this in the fact sheet also. But if you are out working in the garden put on your spray no matter what time of day it is.
what are the symptoms?? that would be helpful to know don't ya think!
CNS: The fact sheet attached describes symptoms.
I catch Merengue fever every friday night, I know the symptoms of that
Have you seen the MRCU plane in your area since Monday.If yes ,then you better watch out. Just curious to know if these cases coincide with the area/s where the Geneticallly Modified mosquitoes were released without the public being notified.
Probably being focused on the main egg laying areas, there would be an overlap with the release areas of the program. But so what? I hope you are not implying some dark conspiracy theory because there is not one.
The mutant mosquitoes were released in the EE. The confirmed dengue cases are in WB. But that doesn't really mean anything. I mean, mosquitoes don't fly around in one place, they fly all over the place!
The genetically modified mosquitoes were all male and therefore do not bite.
Supposedly. Did you see them?
i am sure that the mrcu aren't short of funding so why do they have to step up anything? shouldn't they have already been operating at their maximum to prevent this. they have two planes but you only ever see one at a time working. if this wasn't a problem in the eighties and ninneties how the hell cna it be a problem now when we should be more advanced in the fight against mosquitoes. oh yes i forgot some people wanted to get their names in the encyclopedis so they were more concerned with genetic testing.
Hey. The planes do not fly side by side so that is why you only see one at a time. If you see one in West Bay the other one is properly in Bodden Town or East End!
So tell us where the "victims" contracted the dengue fever so we know to avoid going outside, especially at dusk and dawn.
As quoted:
The senior public health expert urged everyone to take precautions against getting bitten but not to panic. The MRCU is stepping up its operations especially in the areas where the cases were confirmed.
They know where why why not let the public know?
Um, how far did you read into this article? It clearly says WB and if you read on, it more or less suggests Birch Tree Hill area. But who knows where the infected mosquitoes will fly to. The whole island needs to be treated.
If you walk around there at night you are more likely to get shot than get dengue.
This species of mosquito is not known to travel very far from where they breed.
Did you not read the first paragraph??
"The MRCU has stepped up its operations, especially in the West Bay area where the patients that have contracted dengue came from."
It was not mentioned when the article was first posted on this very fine portal of news. It may very well have been updated because of this person who is going broke. So thank the person rather than abusing them.
Please not that when the article was first released it read differently – specifically saying that the locations had NOT been made public….
Having been diagnosed with dengue we were informed someone from the Public Health Department would be coming around to inspect our premises……3 weeks ago, so I do not understand how Mark Scotland can claim they are taking any necessary steps.
You mean one of macs puppets lied?
HOW DARE YOU