From Cayman Islands Health Department

Dengue Update as of 26 January 2013

Total cases investigated for dengue in 2012 is 94 and 23 for 2013.

Since the last update as of 19 January 2013, there had been 15 new cases under investigation for dengue. Three were admitted to the hospital. None of them had travel history to an endemic area. Five of them were residents of George Town, three were from Bodden Town and seven were from West Bay.

Six results were received during this week from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) previously known as the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC). All tested negative.

Thus the total results received are: 96 cases with results (36 positives, 56 negatives, and 4 inconclusive) with 21 results pending.

Of the 36 confirmed cases, 12 have reported a travel history to endemic countries and 24 had no travel history, suggesting that they acquired the dengue locally.

Distribution of all confirmed cases: West Bay 27, George Town 5 and Bodden Town 4.

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

Of the 24 without travel history: 20 from WB, 2 from GT and 2 from Bodden Town.

Total hospital admissions: 28 (3 during the week of January 19-26, 2013).

The dengue carrier – the Aedes aegyptii mosquito – is present in the Cayman Islands.

Dengue fever is caused by a virus, but a mosquito biting a person with dengue fever can spread the virus to another person.

Cayman Islands Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar reminded the public on the government website (www.gov.ky) that they can help reduce the aedes aegyptii population locally, by clearing yards of containers that can hold water, as these are favourite breeding sites.

Upon report of a suspected dengue case the Public Health Department would immediately inform its partners in prevention and control the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) and the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) of the suspected case, and they would take measures as if it was a case of dengue fever and enhance their mosquito control measures around the residence of the case.

For more advice on mosquito control, contact MRCU on 949-2557 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2223 on Cayman Brac; and DEH on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac.

More about Dengue Fever

Most people recover without any complications, using pain relievers and bed rest. Once a patient has developed a fever, the infectious period lasts for one week only.

Dengue symptoms include: high fever; severe headache; backache; joint and eye pain; nausea and vomiting; and rash.

Countries in our region who reported having dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.