fp Turks and Caicos

Seven people have been diagnosed with dengue fever as of Oct. 21, the Ministry of Health and Human Services has announced.

Five people tested positive for dengue fever, and two more were “clinically suspected cases based on their signs and symptoms,” the ministry said.

The ministry did not say on which islands those infected reside, or whether they contracted the viral infection in the Turks and Caicos Islands or abroad.

The ministry said there is no cause for alarm, and no restrictions have been placed on travel to dengue-affected countries such as the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. But the public is advised to take precautions when travelling and try to avoid mosquito bites.

Dengue fever is a flu-like illness caused by a virus that is spread to humans by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito which is found in TCI. A mosquito becomes infected with the dengue virus when it bites a person who has the virus in their blood. A person can only become infected if bitten by an infected mosquito. Dengue cannot be spread directly from person to person.

The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Although most dengue fever infections result in a relatively mild illness, some persons such as older children and adults are usually sicker than young children. Dengue fever infection can also sometimes progress to a severe form of dengue known as dengue hemorrhagic fever.

The signs and symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, mild bleeding (usually in the nose or gums), easy bruising and a rash, which usually appears three to four days after the start of the fever. Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite are also common.

People experiencing any of the signs and symptoms are advised to report to the nearest health facility immediately and avoid taking aspirin for any related or similar signs or symptoms.

Keep TCI dengue free

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is asking the public to take the following precautions to prevent the spread of dengue fever and minimize its complications:

• Know the signs and symptoms of dengue fever (high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain)
• Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any signs of dengue fever
• Avoid mosquito bites when traveling to areas where Dengue occurs
• Eliminate mosquito breeding sites (get rid of stagnant water as it quickly becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes; check gutters, cover drums/barrels; change water for potted plants every 2-3 days)
• Use mosquito repellents on skin and clothing
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks when outdoors during times that mosquitoes are biting
• Avoid heavily populated residential areas
• Stay in air-conditioned or screened areas when indoors
• Use bed nets if sleeping areas are not screened or air-conditioned
• Report your travel history to your doctor if you have symptoms of dengue
• Ensure your windows and doors are closed tightly and be sure to fix screens on windows and doors to prevent indoor mosquito invasions
• Call Environmental Health Department to treat large bodies of stagnant water on or around your property.