As dengue cases continue to increase with 509 infections and five deaths so far, there has also been an uptick in hospitalisation.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh noted that 86 per cent of the cases are from the Victoria, St Patrick and Caroni counties. Victoria is leading with 40 per cent, followed by St Patrick with 22 per cent and Caroni with 14 per cent.
During a press conference at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital yesterday, the minister noted that the age group between six and 20 years old accounts for 78 per cent of the cases, with the age group 11 to 15 mostly affected.
Head of the San Fernando General Hospital Accident and Emergency Department Dr Reeta Moonesar confirmed that there has been an increase in dengue-related hospitalisation.
However, she said, “Rest assured there are pathways clinical and otherwise to address that, starting from local health centres to E&A and to the wards and a system in place to manage such.”
The minister also appealed to homeowners to cooperate with health officials. He said he met with public health inspectors and five other inspectors yesterday who indicated that homeowners were hostile and uncooperative. “These inspectors are not there to badger you; they are there to advise you, they are there to save lives. Their entry into your home, which they have the legal right to, is to advise you how to get rid of these areas that harbour the mosquitoes.”
Appealing to homeowners to cooperate and be compliant, the minister said they are developing a legal platform to send to the Attorney General to see what other legal measures could be implemented if they don’t get the required level of cooperation from the public.
He also noted that of the 166 notices issued to homeowners to clean their properties, no one has been fined. The minister emphasised that they do not want to penalise anyone, but they need the public to do their part.
Amid calls by residents for clogged waterways to be cleaned to prevent the spread of dengue, the minister again reiterated that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes do not breed in dirty, stagnant water.
To reinforce this point, he brought three tubes, two with water from the Caroni Swamp and a dirty drain containing dead larvae, and another tube containing clean stagnant water with live larvae.
Specialist Medical Officer Dr Osafo Fraser indicated that for the year the Insect Vector Control Division (IVCD) has visited more than 150,000 homes. He noted that in areas with high cases of dengue, the mosquito breeding sites they found were containers, barrels, water used for gardening, and unsanitary environments, including improper disposal of garbage and containers.
Deyalsingh added that they also came across novel breeding sites like the dish racks in kitchens and sliding bathroom doors.
He emphasised that no amount of spraying would eradicate those sites, and too much spraying could lead to the mosquitoes developing resistance.
Despite complaints of insufficient spraying and equipment, Deyalsingh said they would try to assist local government bodies as much as they could, but the IVCD cannot take over the work of 14 corporations.
However, he assured that the IVCD was well-resourced and equipped to respond to the dengue situation.