–          Health minister says
–          Teams deployed, engaging in fogging exercises

MINISTER of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, on Tuesday, said that health authorities have begun to see a decline in dengue cases being recorded in Guyana.
The minister made those remarks during a recorded update where he stated that the decline could be attributed to intensified fogging activities that are ongoing, since a spike in dengue cases had been reported.

Against this backdrop, Dr. Anthony said that, for this year, some 11,240 tests have been done so far with 2,852 persons testing positive for dengue. Of those persons who tested positive, only 265 needed some form of hospitalisation and only two deaths were rerecorded.
Giving further details, he indicated that the regions that have been affected are Regions One, Two, Four, Six, Nine and Ten and as such monitoring has intensified in those regions.
While increased monitoring is ongoing the health minister said that one way in which this infection can be prevented is to kill the mosquito that spreads the infection. As such, the fogging of various breeding sites has intensified.

“We have intensified fogging in almost all of the regions; we have teams that go out and do the fogging… our teams would generally go out in the evening to do the fogging and then early in the morning, so right now we have various teams across the country that are doing this,” he added.
With the strengthened monitoring and fogging exercises ongoing, this week, he said authorities have started to see a decline in cases.

Adding to the list of preventative methods that can be undertaken, he said that the reduction of larvae which lie in stagnant water need to be eliminated. As a result, he indicated that the ministry has procured the necessary chemical that aids in this and has been distributing same.
Further to this, he stated, “On Friday actually we are starting a mosquito net distribution programme, these nets would have insecticide on them, long-lasting insecticide on them.”

Dr Anthony went on to note that this will be used more in the interior regions as, apart from the dengue virus, they are being used to prevent malaria and other mosquito-borne infections.
Meanwhile, the health minister urged people to be cautious and take their symptoms seriously and seek medical attention, be tested and be properly advised by a professional.