Monday 14th January, 2019-Parents of children who may not be of age to express their feelings are being encouraged to look carefully for signs and symptoms that may point to illness.
With the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment appealing for citizens and residents to guard against contracting Dengue Fever, Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Oreta Zachariah says one of the symptoms of Dengue is severe dehydration and there is a way to tell if a young child is dehydrated.
Last week, Ministry of Health technicians revealed that 10 cases of suspected dengue fever were recorded between 5th April, 2018 to 2nd January, 2019. Of that number, two were confirmed through laboratory tests and two have had severe dengue. No deaths have been reported.
While there isn’t anything that can be done to identify dengue fever, particularly at ports of entry, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas is encouraging persons to seek medical attention with urgency if they are unwell.
The Central Board of Health has stepped up fogging, a process that is undertaken to kill adult mosquitoes.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says that Antigua and Barbuda and the region are due for an outbreak of Dengue Fever.
