Call for more dengue testing

Local health officials are unable to say if the island is experiencing an outbreak of dengue fever.

The World Health Organisation is expecting an increase worldwide, but in Barbados, up to mid-July, there have only been seven confirmed cases of the disease.

Senior Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Leslie Rollock, explains PCR testing on a patient’s blood sample would need to be done to confirm the presence of the dengue fever virus.

She however notes there have been many suspected cases.

Dr. Rollock is urging doctors to encourage patients to be tested for dengue, particularly as she notes some symptoms such as body aches and fever, are similar to those associated with the flu.

The main type of dengue being presented has been the type 1 virus, but as Dr. Rollock explains, there are four types, and depending on what the patient had before, it could lead to more severe cases.

The doctor says the entire country is a watch area for the Aedes Egypti mosquito, and she’s encouraging everyone to get rid of water collection areas because these are breeding sites.

The Ministry of Health is also keeping up with its fogging programme to deal with the adult mosquitoes.

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