Health Ministry: 666 cases of dengue, five dead

THE Ministry of Health has said there are 666 laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue fever and five laboratory-confirmed deaths in the country, in a statement on August 7.

The public is reminded that dengue is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms appear within five-six days of being bitten and last for one-two weeks.

Symptoms can include: fever, headache (sometimes severe), pain behind eyes, muscle and joint pains, skin rash, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhoea

Anyone showing signs or symptoms of dengue should seek immediate medical treatment at their doctor or the nearest health facility.

The statement said the best way to curb the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases was by eliminating the breeding sites of the Aedes species mosquito.

The public is urged to:

1. Dispose of all unwanted articles, derelict vehicles, or appliances in the yard or environs which can collect water and become mosquito breeding grounds.

2. Cover water containers such as tanks, barrels, drums or buckets with a mosquito-proof covering.

3. Cut down and remove all bush or undergrowth that can harbour mosquitoes.

4. Clean drains and guttering to allow the free flow of water.

5. Use mosquito nets and insect repellent, when appropriate, as a means of personal protection.