Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer says the Health Department in each parish is working closely with school administrators to provide guidance and support for mosquito prevention and control activities.  Minister Spencer explained that given the current dengue situation, all efforts must be taken to ensure that children returning to school enjoy a health environment. He says in light of this, the Ministry is urging school administrators to ensure that their school grounds are free of mosquito breeding sites.

He says administrators may also call the Health Department in their parish if they need additional assistance to identify and eliminate breeding sites and get rid of adult mosquitoes. “I had instructed the health departments to intensify their vector control activities. Any assistance that is needed to reduce the mosquito population can be sought from the health department. The Ministry and its relevant agencies remain on high alert for dengue,” he said.

Young children as well as adults are susceptible to dengue fever.  There is no person to person transmission. The virus is spread when the aedes aegypti mosquito bites an infected person and then another.

“Preventing the breeding of the aedes aegypti mosquito is the only way of reducing the spread of dengue since there is no other way of transmission except through the bite of a mosquito carrying the virus.  I therefore appeal to school administrators to undertake the necessary activities to ensure that mosquitoes are not breeding on their compound,” Minister Spencer said.

Minister Spencer advises that schools should ensure that the grass is cut. They should also get rid of mosquito breeding sites by looking for anything in which water can settle and either cover it, keep the area dry, clean it regularly, fill it with soil or sand, punch holes into it, recycle or properly dispose of it.

Common symptoms of dengue fever include sudden onset of high fever with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, bone or joint pain, skin rash and vomiting or feeling nauseous.

If you have fever and two or more of these symptoms, you may have been infected with dengue.

Individuals who wish to obtain more information on dengue may call the Ministry’s National Emergency Operations Centre at 1888-663-5683 (1888 ONE LOVE) daily, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561