Dengue fever reaches Cayman

(CMR) A Dengue outbreak, which has been affecting several Caribbean countries, has reached the Cayman Islands. CMR has learned that the Cayman Islands recorded two cases of dengue in Windsor Park last week and one in Bodden Town this week, all imported from nations now experiencing an outbreak.

The Cayman Islands Mosquito Research & Control Unit (MRCU) is now frantically treating known mosquito-infected areas with larvicide to combat a possible outbreak locally.

Several Caribbean nations, such as Jamaica, The Bahamas and Guyana, have been battling dengue fever outbreaks. The younger population, especially children, is believed to be more susceptible to the current strains of the virus, with deaths recorded among children in The Bahamas and Guyana.

Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness reported  316 suspected, presumed, or confirmed dengue cases across the country on Monday.

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Data from the ministry’s National Surveillance Unit show that for the same period last year, the country recorded 65 instances of the mosquito-borne disease, making the figure seen in 2023 an almost fivefold increase.

Jamaica’s Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton, said that based on laboratory results, there have been 39 positive cases so far this year, 38 of which were identified as Dengue Serotype 2 and one case identified as dengue Serotype 4. Dengue cases were identified in all parishes.

The Bahamas has so far recorded 88 cases. In August, Guyana recorded 2,169 cases of dengue, with 239 patients hospitalized and 11 dengue-related deaths for this year.

According to the World Health Organization, dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates.

Most people who get dengue won’t have symptoms. But for those that do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Most will also get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.