Dengue hits Dominica, five patients critical

The medical cases related to dengue have increased in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Chief Medical officer Dr. David Johnson said that there has been a massive increase in the number of patients suffering from dengue fever since the start of September month.

During his interview session with DBS radio, Johnson explained the precautions that can be taken to prevent the fever from spreading. The age group which is currently suffering from the disease is said to be between the ages of one and twenty years.

As per the data by Johnson, there have been five severe patients that required immediate admission to the Intensive Care, but so far nobody has lost their life due to dengue.

“We have had several admissions and most of our cases who have made it to the hospital are between the ages of 1 year to 20 years. At least five persons were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but as I keep stressing there are no deaths,” added the Chief Medical Officer Johnson.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. The incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. It is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses.

As per information the health department of Dominica is ensuring that no person succumbs due to the virus. Important steps are being taken to ensure the preventive methods to control the virus from spreading on the island.