Ministry of Health probes alleged dengue death

The Ministry of Health is reporting that there has been one presumed denguerelated death which occurred in 2018. This classification is based on a positive Antibody Blood Test (IgM) in respect of one person who died.

Confirmation is only made with a positive dengue PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test which in this instance was negative.

In a release, the Ministry said that up to yesterday, it had received a total of six notifications of possible dengue-related deaths.

In addition to the case mentioned above, the Ministry said two other deaths fit the clinical case definition for dengue-related deaths.

Those deaths, however, did not have positive dengue results and therefore remain suspected cases.

The release said the remaining three notifications do not fit the case definition for dengue-related deaths based on the information provided on the notifications and are not considered suspected cases at this time.

The Ministry, however, said it continues to investigate these cases.

Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, the same vector that transmits the chikungunya and zika viruses.

Symptoms for dengue typically begin three to 14 days after infection. This may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a skin rash. Symptoms usually last two to seven days. There is no specific treatment for dengue, but access to proper medical care reduces mortality rates.