Four dengue fever deaths in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Four persons have died from dengue fever in St Vincent and the Grenadines.  The death toll now comprises two children and two elderly adults.

Confirmation comes from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment which also revealed that the number of laboratory confirmed cases of dengue fever have surge to 432.

As previously indicated a nine-year-old boy and a middle-aged woman who died were confirmed on laboratory diagnosis to have had dengue fever.

A four-year-old boy who died before the dengue test could be completed has now been confirmed to have had dengue fever from a sample taken after his death.

An elderly man who died on Friday, September 25 at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, has also been confirmed to have had dengue fever.

The Ministry said that  the mosquito borne disease continues to affect all health districts, but most cases have been reported as occurring in persons who live in the Kingstown, Georgetown and Pembroke Health Districts.

It said persons in the 0 to 15 year age group account for the majority of cases.

The Ministry says the Pharmaceutical Services Programme, working with consultant physicians, is currently considering the use of papaya leaf tea and interferon to determine their use to safely augment care for patients with moderate and severe dengue fever.

Moreover the Vector Control Unit will further ramp up its strategy to reduce the mosquito populations through the deployment of district teams focused on source reduction, including fogging.

At the same time, the Health Ministry is reminding the public that the fight against dengue fever is a shared responsibility.