Westmoreland seeing uptick in notifications of suspected dengue cases

 

The Ministry of Health says it is monitoring a surge in cases of people presenting with symptoms of dengue fever in Westmoreland.

 

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says the health department has received an increase in complaints from people showing symptoms of the disease since the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

 

"We have had 288 notifications, meaning citizens that have displayed signs and symptoms of potential dengue. Since Beryl, about 50 notifications, but fortunately, where tests have been done, those tests have revealed no positive dengue person or individual. So what it means is that persons who display signs and turn up at a doctor or a health centre, they have been treated for, but tests then reveal whether it confirms or not. And to date, I'm told that no confirmation has taken place," he disclosed. 

 

Dr. Tufton said the ministry will continue to monitor the situation. 

 

The government says it has injected millions of dollars into its vector control programme to prevent the possible outbreak of dengue following the passage of Hurricane Beryl.