THE NUMBER of Barbadians infected with dengue fever for the year to date stands at 321.
Minister of Health Donville Inniss quoted this figure yesterday as he addressed a three-day Pan American Health Organisation/Caribbean Epidemiology Centre Emergency Vector Control workshop at Grand Barbados Beach Resort, Aquatic Gap, St Michael.
“In Barbados we have confirmed 321 cases of dengue fever with three reported deaths, in comparison to 91 in 2009. These figures are not ones which we wish to have continue,” he said.
Inniss said the rise of dengue cases was not restricted to Barbados, as there were 872 cases recorded in the region this year up to July in comparison to 242 during the same period last year.
Inniss said the Environmental Health Department had therefore implemented a three-month programme to decrease the mosquito population by increasing house-to-house inspections; investigating complaints within 24 hours; inspecting underground utility junction boxes; education; chemical control (fogging) and biological control (fish). (CA)
