From the Cayman Islands Public Health Department

Dengue Update as of 2 March 2013

•          Total cases investigated for dengue in 2012 was 94 with 37 being positive for dengue, 4 inconclusive and 53 negative. To date there have been 45 investigations in 2013 with 6 positives, 33 negatives and six results pending.

•          Since the last update as of February 23, 2013, there have been 3 new cases under investigation for dengue during the week of February 24 to March 2, 2013. None had a travel history to an endemic area; there was one admission to the hospital; one was a resident of George Town, and two from West Bay.

•          12 results were received during this week from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) previously known as the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC). One was positive for dengue, with an onset of September 23, 2012 and is included in the final positive count for 2012. There are no more results pending for 2012. The last positive case for this year 2013 remains the one with the onset on January 25, 2013.

•          The total results received thus far are: 133 cases with results (43 positives, 86 negatives, and 4 inconclusive) with 6 results awaiting of which 3 are from the week of February 24 to March 2 and 3 prior to that.

Of the 43 confirmed cases, 12 had reported a travel history to endemic countries and 31 had no travel history, suggesting that they acquired the dengue locally.

•          Distribution of all confirmed cases: West Bay 33, George Town 6 and Bodden Town 4.

•          Out of the 12 with travel history: 7 from West Bay; 3 from G. T, and 2 from Bodden Town.

•          Of the 31 without travel history: 26 from WB, 3 from GT and 2 from Bodden Town.

•          Total hospital admissions: 31.