Nine more new cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in the territory since the first week of August, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 87 so far this year.
The continuous increase in the number of confirmed cases has officials from the Department of Health believing that local residents are not doing their best to practice preventive measures to control the spread of the potentially fatal disease.
No confirmed reports have been issued on whether or not anybody has died from dengue fever yet, but it is believed that the first person to die from the disease was a 10-year-old boy who passed away on August 15.
DOH medical director Dr. Ivan Tuliau has refused to offer any details regarding the rumors, although he says that he will offer comments after the young boy’s family is notified about the test results that came back after the boy had died.
Tuliau and other DOH officials are trying their best to encourage members of the community to practice the 3D’s of prevention to stop the spread of dengue fever, which has reached epidemic levels.
1 – DRAIN standing water around the house that can serve as mosquito breeding sites including tires, drums, buckets, old appliances, and ice cream containers that can hold standing water.
2 – DRESS protectively by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, sock, and shoes.
3 – DEET – Use a mosquito repellent containing “DEET”
on exposed skin.
Dengue fever is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito commonly found in the territory. The best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to get rid of the most common mosquito breeding sites which are:
tires, drums, buckets, old appliances, ice cream containers, folded plastic, tin cans, plastic, styrofoam, and plastic bags.
Anyone experiencing symptoms that include fever, severe headaches, pains in the body and joints, nausea, vomiting, eye pain, and rash need to contact a physician immediately.
More information about dengue fever or other communicable diseases can be obtained by calling the DOH Communicable Disease Program at 633-4627 or 633-4606.
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