U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are on-island through next week to assist the Health Department in determining the degree of dengue activity in the community.
“We have invited CDC epidemiologists and entomologists to provide technical assistance to the Health Department in investigating the apparent increase in dengue cases that began last month,” Health Commissioner Darice Plaskett said in a statement from the department.
In November, a month when the peak of dengue season is usually over, the Health Department saw at least 16 confirmed cases of dengue fever by the middle of the month – much more than usual for the season, the release stated.
And since January 2012, more than 69 suspected and confirmed cases have been reported across the territory. The real number of cases is likely larger as some doctors have suggested that many patients show symptoms but do not give permission for blood tests to confirm the presence of the virus.
The New York Times reported on Nov. 5 that growing numbers of tourists are returning from warm-weather vacation destinations with dengue fever. Nearby Puerto Rico has declared a dengue fever epidemic.
CDC staff will work with V.I. Health Department staff and community health care professionals to ensure that people with a dengue-like illness have access to dengue diagnostic testing, Plaskett said.
Dengue fever is caused by viruses transmitted by female Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes live in and around buildings and are active during the daytime. They lay eggs in containers that hold water around where people live. These include old tires, plant containers, empty drums and even food containers for animals.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue infection. It can be fatal if unrecognized and not properly treated in a timely manner. It is caused by infection with the same viruses that cause dengue fever. With good medical management, mortality due to DHF can be less than 1 percent.
It is estimated there are over 100 million cases of dengue worldwide each year.
Dengue symptoms can include a high fever as well as headache, joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting and rash. Residents should seek medical care if they have any of these symptoms.
The only way to determine if a person has dengue is by laboratory testing done on a blood sample. Some people with dengue also develop warning signs such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, lethargy, pale and cold skin, or difficulty breathing. These warning signs may indicate that the patient has severe disease and should be treated urgently.
Earlier this week, the Department’s Environmental Health officers and CDC entomologists began conducting mosquito assessments at schools and in neighborhoods known to have a high number of dengue cases. Plaskett also said investigation will begin to determine how many cases of dengue have been identified at schools.
CDC and Health Department staff will conduct surveys of students and teachers at several schools on the island to learn more, the release indicated. Some students and teachers will also be asked to participate in the testing of their blood for evidence of recent dengue virus infection to confirm the extent of dengue in schools.
While there is no cure for dengue, there are a number of steps one can take to lessen the risk of contracting it:
-Avoid mosquito bites by closing windows and doors without screens. Repair or install screens;
– Wear clothing that protects you from mosquito bites (long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes, hats);
– Apply insect repellent only to exposed skin or clothing; follow product instructions carefully. Do not use repellents on babies less than 2 months of age;
– Protect infants: cover cribs, strollers and baby carriers with cotton mosquito netting at all times, day and night, both inside and outside of your home. Dress babies in loose cotton clothing that covers arms and legs;
– Empty water out of old drums, tires, plants in water, plastic containers and other items that are not being used. Turn outdoor containers upside down when not in use to prevent water collection or drain them weekly;
– Make sure your cistern is tightly covered so that mosquitoes cannot get inside and lay eggs;
– Place fish in stored or standing water that cannot be drained or emptied easily. Small fish eat mosquito larvae;
– Repair broken septic tanks and cover vent pipes with wire mesh.
The Department of Health plans to work on eliminating sources of mosquito production such as standing pools of water and larviciding mosquito production sites, according to the department.
“Larviciding involves the treatment of water sources that hold mosquito eggs or larvae to kill off the immature mosquito before it becomes a flying mosquito,” Plaskett said. “This method of mosquito abatement was chosen because it is deemed more environmentally friendly and more effective in controlling Aedes mosquitoes.”
Plaskett said that fogging may be conducted in the future to help kill off increases in mosquitoes that normally come with heavy rains but that residents are reminded that fogging by itself does not effectively reduce the transmission of dengue virus.
Residents can help by contacting the Environmental Health Division at 773-131 ext. 3109 on St. Croix and 715-5111 in the St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island district to report standing pools of water near their homes and in their communities that cannot be emptied by residents and that may benefit from larviciding.
Plaskett also said health care providers must report all suspected cases to the Health Department using the V.I. Notifiable Disease Form and by confidential fax at 713-1508. Copies of the form, which have been distributed to health care providers, can also be found by visiting www.healthvi.org and downloaded from under Forms and Applications via www.healthvi.org.
