Caribbean region experiencing surge in dengue cases, potentially worst-ever season looms | WINNFM 98.9

by Kevon Browne

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—A PAHO official says the entire Caribbean reported 25,000 cases of Dengue, 19,000 of which have been laboratory confirmed, 86 severe cases, and three deaths since the start of 2023.

PAHO’s Assistant Director, Dr. Rhonda Sealy-Thomas, disclosed that information during a press conference on March 28, 2024

“In the Caribbean, so far for the year, they’ve reported just over 25,000 [confirmed cases of dengue]. We’ve had a few deaths as well. Countries most affected include French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In terms of [ensuring] we get correct information, PAHO actively engages Ministries of Health in terms of epidemiology and training to ensure that we have similar case definitions throughout the countries so that we can ensure that when a country reports a case of dengue, it’s standardised. Also, we assist countries in making sure that they have the necessary lab capacity so that they can confirm that they have dengue cases, and we encourage countries to report all their suspected and confirmed cases using our case definition so that we can have standardisation and get as accurate information as possible.”

According to PAHO, in 2023, the Region of the Americas experienced the highest number of dengue cases since records began, with 4.5 million cases, including 7,665 severe cases and 2,363 deaths.

The health organisation noted that as of March 26, 2024, over 3.5 million cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported in the region.

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said during the press briefing that there is cause for concern, as statistics show that for the same period in 2023, there have been three times more cases than those reported for the year so far.

There has also been an uptick in cases in countries such as Barbados, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique and Mexico, where transmission is usually higher in the second half of the year.

The PAHO Director called for intensified efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, protect against mosquito bites, and increase health service preparedness for early diagnosis and timely clinical management.

Education, awareness campaigns, and advocacy are paramount to engaging the population about dengue symptoms and when to seek prompt medical attention.

Dr Sealy-Thomas echoed the PAHO director’s sentiments in intensifying efforts, especially for tourism-dependent states like St. Kitts and Nevis.

“The relations between tourism and dengue; because these are small islands that are dependent on tourism, like St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua, it’s very important to get a handle on any outbreaks of diseases, including dengue. PAHO has worked with countries of the Caribbean, including these small islands, in controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito in terms of prevention. We have spoken before about, you know, breeding sites. I know, for example, in Antigua and Barbuda, they’re affected by drought so there’s a lot of water storage, so we have to encourage the public to store water safely so that they don’t encourage the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is the vector that transmits dengue and other diseases.”

Waste management is also a necessary mitigation tactic for reducing mosquito reproduction sites.

The Assistant Director shared that training, while provided, should continue to be the focus of the health sectors in the region.

“Training of healthcare workers, those who work in hospitals and clinics so that they are able to detect cases early and report them and also so that we can manage cases properly so that cases don’t progress to severe dengue and deaths. And a lot of training has been done over the years in countries of the Caribbean, especially the small islands. We train Vector Control Officers in terms of detection and surveillance [of] Aedes aegypti mosquito. We’ve also trained clinicians, as I would have said, and nurses included; we also provide equipment and improved lab capacity in the countries of the region so that they can detect cases earlier.”

She continued, “Even if capacity may not be available in one country in the Caribbean, for example, in the Eastern Caribbean, lab capacity is available in other countries, for example, in Barbados, and of course, we have the Caribbean Public Health Agency Lab that is [the] representative lab for the Caribbean. In terms of vaccines… for dengue are in limited supply, but they are available through the PAHO Revolving Fund… We also encourage countries if they would like to get the dengue vaccine through the revolving fund; it has to be done according to the guidelines of the PAHO Technical Advisory Committee.”

Public Relations and Communications Lead in the Ministry of Health – St. Kitts and Nevis Gavin Belle shared that from January 01, 2024, to March 20, 2024, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has seen 25 cases of Dengue Fever.