Dengue outbreak in Suriname

Sat, January 28, 2012 - 8:46 AM

PARAMARIBO, Suriname –Health officials here have confirmed an outbreak of dengue fever that has even led to the hospitalisation of the Speaker of the country’s parliament Jennifer Simons.

“Up to now more than 300 dengue cases have been registered at the Academic Hospital lab, while other labs also confirm cases,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

It is urging people to immediately contact their physician if they notice that they are suffering from a continuous fever.

Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit, four to seven days after the infection.

A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body between two to five days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.

However, dengue fever should not be confused with dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a separate disease that is caused by the same type of virus but has much more severe symptoms.

Health officials said that the cases of the mosquito-borne disease were peaking and that a crisis team had been established working towards intensive education, awareness and pest control.

Head of the Bureau for Public Healthcare (BOG), Lesley Resida, said the authorities have put in place all pesticides, material and crew to tackle the epidemic,” but we don’t have a vaccine to kill the dengue virus once a person has it”.

Health authorities confirmed that last week the speaker of parliament was hospitalized for dengue. The Ministry of Health gave no indication as to whether anyone had died from the virus that killed 15 people during a similar outbreak between1995-2000. (CMC)