It's been a fierce mosquito season across the country and now the Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of dengue in the Cayo District. Cases have been reported in the villages of Salvapan, Armenia, Cotton Tree, Valley of Peace, Unitedville, Ontario, Roaring Creek, Las Flores, San Martin, Camalote and the city of Belmopan. A release from the Ministry of Health does not disclose how many cases have been diagnosed, or over what period of time.
And while there is a genuine risk that the outbreak could spread countrywide, and getting the information out should be a priority, don't tell that to the folks at the Ministry of Health. Those responsible for answering questions at the Ministry of Health seem to be busy pushing papers from one side of the desk to the other: the information officer was out of office, the epidemiologist could not comment, and the Director of Health Services was un-available, locked up in a meeting with the Minister of Health.
The best we can do is advise that the symptoms are the onset of fever and headache, muscle and joint pain, pain behind the eyes, and rashes. Those in the affected areas who present those symptoms are asked to go to the community nurses aids or the nearest clinic.
Also, you are reminded that mosquitoes spread dengue, so you are advised to get rid or old tires and bottles which the mosquitoes use as breeding sites. In this regard, the Ministry of Health will be launching clean up campaigns across the country.