Health Minister urges dengue precautions

Source: Guyana Chronicle, 9th April 2008

THE Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy is urging citizens living on the coast and hinterland areas to sleep under mosquito nets, since there are a growing number of dengue cases in neighbouring countries and around the Americas.

At a recent press conference the minister said that efforts have been made by his Ministry to expand the vector control programme by intense fogging exercise and other measures, by providing long lasting impregnated mosquito nets.

He added that the Ministry has been distributing the nets in some coastal areas to pregnant women and families with young children.

Dr. Ramsammy further urged that everyone should protect themselves sleeping under bed nets, because the Ministry cannot afford to distribute the impregnated nets to all citizens.

“We need to protect ourselves. The mosquito that transmits dengue is the Aedes aegypti, which bites you at night and also day, so we need to protect ourselves at all times,” Dr. Ramsammy said.

Ramsammy pointed out that the advisory that will be issued by the ministry is to inform citizens on the use of the net, which is not only to be used at nights.

The minister disclosed that there was an increase in reported cases of dengue fever last year and as part of the national health regulations, efforts are being made to gather more information on the epidemiological profile of such cases in the region.

According to the minister, while there was evidence that there was an increase last year, when compared to previous years, he said there is no evidence available as yet to suggest that there is a real increase in the cases.

“We are not certain whether the increasing numbers we saw last year is a real increase of dengue cases in Guyana or whether it is a reflection of the intensified surveillance system that we have,” the minister noted.

The Ministry of Health ensures that information on reported dengue cases are collected from all health centres countrywide.