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No it’s not what you think, and no, thankfully it’s not in the US. Jamaica has just declared a Dengue fever outbreak within the country, as they are seeing hundreds of confirmed and suspected cases. At this time, it’s reported that there are at least 565 confirmed cases and six deaths.
The country has exceeded the epidemic threshold for both July and August, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness is expecting similar numbers for September. The ministry has declared this to be an epidemic level situation and has taken steps to mitigate its spread.
There are a number of preventative measures that can be taken by both individuals and communities in order to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, which is spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever due to its painful symptoms, is caused by four types of viruses that are transmitted through mosquito bites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around one in four people infected will experience mild symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, rash, aches and pains however, some may develop severe dengue -which can result in shock, internal bleeding, or even death- if not treated promptly.
Recovery takes about a week for those with mild symptoms.
The Jamaican government is taking proactive steps to contain this outbreak.
About 500 temporary vector control workers have been deployed across the island along with 213 permanent workers assigned to high-risk communities.
Additionally Minister Christopher Tufton has warned citizens about removing potential breeding sites for mosquitoes from their surroundings – such as drums, tires, buckets or animal feeding containers. Furthermore they are urged to wear protective clothing when outside during dusk hours when Aedes Aegypti are most active, use mosquito repellent whenever possible, keep windows and doors closed at night time and avoid standing water pools where mosquitoes may lay eggs on surfaces like flower pots or old tires.
