The Ministry of Health has identified Micoud North and South as the regions with the highest incidence of dengue fever in Saint Lucia.
As a result, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs recently held a Vector Awareness Roadshow in the communities.
A Ministry release said it was part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness and educate the public about the dangers of vector-borne diseases, particularly dengue fever.
The Environmental Health Department led the roadshow featuring demonstrations of preventative breeding methods, effective insect repellents and larvicide distribution, and discussions on how communities can contribute to reducing mosquito breeding grounds.
“After the epidemiology department identified Micoud North and South as the regions with the highest incidence of dengue fever, the Ministry swiftly implemented measures to contain the outbreak,” explained Permanent Secretary Jenny Daniel.
According to the Health Ministry release, with assistance from the Chairperson, Damien Jn. Baptiste, the Micoud North Constituency Council’s collaboration was instrumental in the roadshow’s success.
Jn Baptiste explained that the council recognises its responsibility to address community health challenges.
“This roadshow is a vital initiative to empower residents with the necessary knowledge and resources to combat dengue, particularly through effective mosquito breeding site management, ” he asserted.
The Ministry of Health described the Micoud roadshow as a proactive key component of its strategy to engage communities in the fight against dengue, with a special focus on reducing the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary carrier of the virus.
During the first week in September, Medical Surveillance Officer Dr. Dana DaCosta-Gomez disclosed that Saint Lucia had recorded 40 dengue cases for 2024.
“It is important to note that 50% of these cases were recorded in the month of August, which is a 200% increase in documented cases from the previous month,” Gomez stated at the time.
Individuals with dengue may experience a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, and rash.
Someone can become infected with the dengue virus more than once, as four serotypes known as dengue one to four exist.
Reinfection with a serotype different from a previous infection can result in a more severe form of the disease.
The last dengue fever outbreak in Saint Lucia occurred in 2020 when the Island recorded over 1300 confirmed cases.
