Dengue Fever is Dangerous

1
Dengue Fever is Dangerous

• Mosquitoes are more than Pests

2
Why is the Threat of Dengue Important to the BVI?

• Dengue is important to us because it is a serious
  illness it is on the increase in the Caribbean
  and in this territory. For the first time the
  most deadly form of dengue fever, Dengue
  Hemorrhagic Fever has been found to be in the
  territory.
• Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever can cause DEATH.

3
Dangerous Dengue is on the Increase

• Dengue is a dangerous illness, it can cause much
  suffering, and in some cases death. Over the past
  decade the Caribbean region has been experiencing
  increased cases of dengue.
• In 1980 the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre
  reported 20 cases (people) with dengue fever.
• By 1990 this had increased to 616 by 1995
  increased to 5,087,and in 1998 to 5,794.
• To date more than 15,000 cases had been reported
  in the Caribbean.

4
What is Dengue Fever ?

• Dengue Fever is an illness that results from
  contracting the dengue virus from the bite of an
  infected Aedes aegypti mosquito that is carrying
  the virus.
• There are four types of dengue viruses. When a
  person has had one type of dengue virus infection
  once in his/her life, and later gets infected
  with another type of dengue virus, that person is
  in danger of getting Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.
  This fever can kill.

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Signs and Symptoms of Dengue Fever

• Abrupt onset of high fever
• Severe frontal headache
• Pain behind the eyes which worsens with eye
  movement
• Muscle and joint pains
• Loss of sense of taste and appetite
• Measles-like rash over chest and upper limbs
• Nausea and vomiting

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Signs and Symptoms of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

• Symptoms similar to dengue fever plus
• Frequent vomiting with or without blood
• Internal bleeding which can lead to shock
• Difficulty in breathing.
• This fever can be difficult to treat, and in
  some cases even with the best medical care people
  die. Do not wait, see a doctor immediately. It is
  crucial to quickly treat anyone with these
  complications

7
How is Dengue Spread ?

• Dengue is spread when the female Aedes aegypti
  mosquito bites an infected person, it sucks up
  the blood with the virus and passes this virus
  onto the next person she bites for more blood. In
  this way the mosquito becomes a carrier of the
  dengue virus. We call these carriers of disease
  and illness vectors

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How can we prevent Dengue from spreading?

• There is no vaccine to protect us from Dengue.
• We must, therefore, protect ourselves by
  avoiding the infection. The only way of becoming
  infected is through the bite of the mosquito that
  is carrying the virus.

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We avoid dengue, when we can avoid mosquito bites

• The Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries the
  dengue virus, likes to lay her eggs in water near
  or in our homes. She enjoys living near to
  humans, her convenient blood supply.
• Anything that holds water can be a
  mosquito-breeding site. Therefore, the best way
  of protecting your family and community from
  dengue fever is to destroy all the places in
  which the mosquito can lay eggs, breed more young
  mosquitoes, increase their number, and so spread
  dengue to more persons when they bite them for
  their blood. Here are some actions you can take
  to rid your home and community of mosquito
  breeding sites.

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Mosquito proof your Cistern

• Screen Outlets (use 18 screening/mesh wire)
• Screen Down spouts from the roof
• Seal points of entry of pipe into cistern
• Place small fish in your cisterns for these eat
  the mosquito larvae (wrigglers)

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Mosquito Proof Ground Level Water Tanks

• Ensure the cover fits tightly this prevents
  adult mosquitoes from entering and laying eggs.
• Repair broken manhole covers.
• Plug overflow holes located under the cover of
  Black Rotoplastic tanks.

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Prevent Mosquito Breeding in Flower and Plant Pots

• Change the water-pots holding your plants or cut
  flowers at least once a week.
• Drain flower pots flowerpots should have holes
  for drainage
• Plants should ideally be grown in a mixture of
  sand and water or...
• Use damp soil instead of water for growing
  plants.
• Keep the saucers of flower pots dry

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Prevent Mosquito Breeding inside your House and
Yard

• Throw out the water in your draining pan under
  your refrigerator at least once per week
• Clean and scrub your dish drainers at least once
  per week
• Toilet flush tanks should be inspected and
  cleaned at least once per week and always kept
  tightly covered
• Keep surroundings clean and get rid of containers
  which may hold even the tiniest amount of water
  e.g. tins, old tires, old pans, bottles, etc.

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Actions to take

• Punch holes in tins before disposal
• Get rid of derelict vehicles
• Ornamental pools and fountains should be
  regularly drained and scrubbed, chlorinated,
  and/or stocked with guppies (fish).
• Swimming pools should be kept clean, filtered,
  and in good condition.

15
Community Actions

• Community members can work together to
• Keep the environment clean e.g. de-bush empty
  lots
• Keep gullies/ghuts and drains clean
• Monitor and destroy any other mosquito breeding
  places.

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Personal Protection

• People can further protect themselves from
  mosquito bites by using
• Mosquito coils
• electric vapor mats
• Mosquito repellent sprayed on skin
• Screen windows and doors
• sleep under mosquito proof bed nets
• Close windows late evenings and early mornings
• Wear protective clothing, such as long sleeve
  shirts, long pants, and thick (bobby) socks
  during day time. It is also advisable to avoid
  wearing dark colours.

17
Community Government -Partners in Dengue
Prevention

• Every government takes the responsibility for
  keeping public places free of garbage and junk
  that can become mosquito-breeding places. Your
  Government provides us with information on how we
  can act to protect yourself, and assist us as
  much as possible.
• But, no Department of Health, no government, can
  come into our homes and workplaces and stop
  mosquitoes from biting us. Only we can do this.
  The government cannot stop the mosquito from
  breeding in our flowerpots or debris left strewn
  in our yards. Only we can do this.
• If we are serious and determined, we can ensure
  that mosquitoes have no place to breed more
  mosquitoes to bite us and give us dengue fever.
• So Search and Destroy mosquito breeding places at
  home and work

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THANK YOU

• Youre welcome!