Despite cries from those with respiratory disorders including asthma, the Ministry of Health is doubling up its efforts to wipe out the dreaded dengue fever breakout that has hit Barbados. Compared to the same time last year, the country has seen triple the number of cases of dengue fever with two deaths, one allegedly of a well-loved, popular bank manager according to news reports.
The Ministry of Health in Barbados had confirmed an increase of more than 500 people made ill by the mosquito-borne illness after 511 cases were confirmed for September as against 169 for the same period in 2012. The statement had come after an outbreak hit Republic Bank Ltd. with the sudden death of Republic Bank branch manager Lorraine Sealy. It is suspected by Ministry of Health officials that, Sealy, 43, who was customer service manager of the Worthing, Christ Church branch, died from the mosquito-borne illness. Two deaths from dengue have been reported to date.
The Ministry of Health had admitted in September that more than 500 people have come down with dengue and confirmed that cases of the mosquito-borne illness have more than doubled.
“One death from dengue fever was recorded in May this year, while a recent death is being investigated,” the statement noted.
The outbreak prone viral disease is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and is characterized by fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, rash, nausea and vomiting. Some infection results in Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – a syndrome that in its severe form, can threaten the patient’s life primarily through increased vascular permeability and shock. DF and DHF are caused by the four dengue viruses DEN 1, 2, 3 and 4, which are closely related antigenically. Infection with one serotype provides life-long immunity to that virus but not to the others.
The Ministry of Health in Barbados, however routinely carries out fogging exercises and places notices in the community notices on state TV and the press. Fogging is the use of aerosol spray having a distribution of droplets with a Volume Median Diameter (VMD) in the range of below 50 microns (mostly 5‐15 microns), and where the number of droplets per unit volume is such that visibility is reduced. Thermal fog reduces visibility to great extent and may pose traffic hazard. Fogging has been listed as the last option in chemical control methods because of the limitations.
As far back as June, Dr Joy St. John, Chief Medical Officer of Barbados had warned of a dangerous situation developing stating that more underground sites had become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. She asked Barbadians to take every precaution as suggested by the Ministry of Health to control the outbreak of dengue. According to her, many of these underground junction boxes belong to the Barbados Light and Power and LIME. Dr. St. John says investigations over the last three months show that 11 percent of the BL&P’s manholes and 19 percent of LIME’s underground sites have tested positive for mosquito breeding. Minister Denis Lowe, with responsibility for drainage said that he would continue to make sure that the drains were cleared and kept free of the potential for mosquito breeding and encouraged householders and commercial houses to do their part.
Barbados is now reporting six hundred and eighty-nine cases (689) of confirmed dengue fever.
