Health alert! - Cases of dengue

A health CRISIS is looming over the island as the Ministry of Health and Environ-ment has confirmed one death associated with dengue fever, five suspected cases of the deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever, and 100 cases of leptospirosis.

In addition, the ministry on Tuesday, also identified one new case of malaria in Waterhouse, St. Andrew. This comes after 15 weeks of no new cases being reported.

The Ministry of Health said the increase in the number of cases of dengue is as a result of Hurricane Dean in August, and the heavy rains currently lashing the island.

Acting on the instruction of the ministry, prisoners at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre are being X-rayed, following the death of an inmate who was diagnosed with tuberculosis last month.

"Our active surveillance and monitoring system has shown that cases and 975 suspected cases of dengue between the months of July and September," Rudyard Spencer, the Minister of Health and Environment told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

Mr. Spencer said this was the highest number of reported cases since 1998.

Dengue fever is a viral illness, transmitted by the female Aedes Aegypti mosquito and occurs in two forms: Dengue Fever and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.

Dengue fever is marked by the onset of sudden high fever, severe headache and pain behind the eyes, muscles and joints.

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