(LOOP NEWS CARIBBEAN) – St Vincent and the Grenadines is attempting to avoid a major outbreak of dengue fever on the island.
The dengue virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
As of September 2, there were 184 laboratory confirmed cases of dengue.
Epidemiologist Tamara Bobb said on August 25, St Vincent and the Grenadines had 74 recorded cases, which shows a significant increase in the number of confirmed laboratory cases.
She noted the majority of dengue cases have been mild, with only two persons recorded with the severe form of the virus, dengue hemorrhagic fever.
No deaths have been recorded so far for the year.
Bobb explained that the last major outbreak of dengue in the region was in 2009.
In 2010 and 2014 there were outbreaks in St Vincent and the Grenadines which recorded in excess of 200 cases.
She said the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) had predicted there would be a dengue outbreak in 2018.
Efforts must now be made to ensure dengue does not spiral out of control in St Vincent and the Grenadines especially during this time of COVID-19.
Bobb was speaking during the Round Table Talk programme in SVG.
