Last positive dengue case contracted January

(CNS): Although public officials in Cayman have investigated some 45 cases of dengue fever so far this year most of them have been negative and the last positive case of dengue was contracted locally on 25 January. However six people have been confirmed to have had the disease so far this year and officials are still waiting on a further six results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). In a release this week the public health department said that the last results for 2012 have now been received with just one more case confirmed positive bringing the total cases for 2012 to a record breaking 37 cases most of which were picked up locally in the Cayman Islands.

Since the last update officials have begun investigating three new possible cases of dengue during the week of February 24 to March 2. One of the patients was admitted to the hospital and none had a travel history to an endemic area – one was a resident of George Town, and the other two are from West Bay.

A dozen results were received this week including the remaining outstanding results for 2012. Only one of those results was positive and in that case the patient became ill back in September last year.

Since the start of last year 43 people have been confirmed to have picked up dengue fever and only six results remain outstanding that were reported to health officials over the last two weeks.

So far from the 43 confirmed cases only 12 had travelled to endemic countries while 31 acquired the dengue in Cayman mostly in West Bay.  Public officials have confirmed 26 patients were from West bay, three from George Town and two from Bodden Town.