Dengue fever cases have risen to 911 locally, while health authorities have clamped down on property owners with unkempt premises.
This means confirmed cases have increased by 86.
Calls have continued for the public to maintain clean surroundings and thus minimise potential breeding grounds of the aedes aegypti mosquito, which can spread the virus after biting an infected person.
The ministry stated that as at yesterday, “a total of 503 yellow fever notices have been issued to property owners/occupiers, directing them to clean up their surroundings”.
“Of this, 16 property owners/occupiers have, thus far been identified for the consideration/institution of legal proceedings for non-compliance,” the update advised.
Symptoms of dengue usually appear within five to six days of being bitten, and last one to two weeks. Symptoms include fever, headaches (sometimes severe), pain behind eyes, muscle and joint pains, skin rash, nausea/vomiting and diarrhoea.
Health authorities have urged that “anyone showing signs or symptoms of Dengue Fever should seek immediate medical treatment at their doctor or the nearest health facility”.
The elimination of the breeding sites of the aedes species mosquito remains the best approach to controlling the population and mitigating the spread of dengue, according to ministry officials.
This includes the disposal of all unwanted articles, derelict vehicles or appliances in the yard or environs which can collect water and become mosquito breeding grounds.
Water containers such as tanks, barrels, drums or buckets should be covered with mosquito proof covering.
Cut down and remove all bush or undergrowth that can harbour mosquitoes and clean drains and guttering to allow for the free flow of water.
The use of personal protection such as mosquito nets and insect repellent, when appropriate, is also encouraged.
Death of Child
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Nelisha Sophia Narine was a healthy child who loved the outdoors and adored her family.
She had big dreams and participated in all activities at the North Trace Government Primary School, where she was a Standard One pupil, class teacher Zaniffa John-Bissoon said.
But Nelisha’s life ended last week Wednesday.
The child’s parents are claiming that Nelisha, called “Dolly” by her loved ones, was showing signs of the dengue virus and was taken to the Indian Walk Health Centre two Fridays ago. She was not given any medication and the family was told to return in five days for a dengue test, the family said.
The symptoms worsened, however, and Nelisha was taken to the Princes Town District Hospital on August 11.
“Upon arrival, doctors told them to go straight to San Fernando. Dolly passed away Wednesday morning at SFGH from dengue,” an aunt said.
Nelisha’s death certificate states she died on August 14 from “presumptive dengue shock syndrome with gastrointestinal haemorrhage de novo diabetes mellitus”.
The New Grant, Princes Town, family is now calling on the authorities to explain why Nelisha was not immediately treated at the health centre and why a dengue test was not administered.
Nelisha was laid to rest yesterday, following a funeral service at her family’s North Trace, Hindustan Road, home. The child was dressed in pink-coloured Indian wear and her body placed in a pink coffin. Her brother, ten-year-old Amit, and father, Amar, performed the final rites at the Hindu ceremony. Nelisha’s teachers and classmates attended the service and performed her favourite poem and song.
The child’s First Year teacher, Sue Harricharan, said she remembered how caring and loving Nelisha was to her teachers and friends.
“I taught Nelisha in First Year and even before that I knew her, she attended North Trace ECCE School and her mom will pick her up and come for Amit and Nelisha would be excited and run into the classroom and sit next to Amit. She was a loving and caring child. I will stand up and look at children while they play and Nelisha would say ‘Miss, you good?’” Harricharan recalled.
She said Nelisha participated in all activities at her school and she would always speak about her love for her parents and brother.
“Only a mother could understand the pain Nikita (Nelisha’s mother) is going through; this is a difficult time for all of us. I know you all are going through an unbearable pain, but with the passage of time the pain will be lessened and you would be able to look back at the memories and smile,” she said.
Mom Nikita cried silently during the short service as she watched her husband and son perform aarti and place garlands on her child.
Nelisha was buried at the New Grant cemetery next to her grandparents.
SWRHA Responds
The Express sought comment yesterday from the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) on the claims being made by Nelisha’s family.
In a WhatsApp message, the SWRHA stated that it was aware of the “article circulating on social media” portraying information that has invited comment on the professional healthcare services rendered to Nelisha.
The SWRHA stated that a further review of the documented care is being completed at this time, mindful of all the protocols that would have been used to guide the medical advice given and medical interventions that were taken on the basis of presenting complaint.
“This review will also include the Authority being intent on contact with the next of kin to gather additional information and disclose all relevant clinical details that may assist in a final understanding of the care rendered to the deceased,” the Authority stated.
Dengue Spreading
The Health Ministry epidemiological update on Friday reported that confirmed cases of dengue fever have risen to 825 infections while deaths related to the disease had remained at eight people.
As the number of dengue infections continues to climb, Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh warns that the country is facing an “outbreak situation”.
The most recent victim of this sickness is an eight-year-old girl named Nelisha Sophia Narine, who was laid to rest following a burial service at her family’s New Grant Princes Town house on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
She was taken to the Indian Walk Health Centre on Friday and sent home with a high fever and no medicine, while her parents were informed they would have to wait five days for a dengue test.
Her parents attempted to manage her problems from there, but on Sunday, she was transported to PTDHF, where doctors advised them to proceed straight to San Fernando. Despite receiving care, the small child died on Wednesday morning at SFGH from Dengue fever.
He stated that it is already classed as a dengue outbreak because the ministry has reported more instances this year than the prior year, from 2017 to the present.
“The last time we got numbers like this was in 2014 or 2017. So we’re in an outbreak situation, but it’s difficult to forecast and foretell where it will go,” explained the Minister.
He went on to say that his team is working hard at the government level and asking individuals to do their part to save citizens, particularly youngsters, from this outbreak.
While no official announcement has been issued confirming the existence of an outbreak, the minister is inviting the public to come to Couva Hospital as soon as possible to be examined.
He highlighted, “With the setup we have at Couva this week, 176 people have already come in between Monday and Friday, which is good. A total of 16 awards were given. Make use of the facility. We have a similar facility in Sangre Grande, and one will be opened in Saint James.”
Minister Deyal Singh also reminded people to do everything possible to minimise the spread of dengue by making it harder for the Aedes aegypti mosquito to find breeding sites.
Symptoms of Dengue
Symptoms of dengue may include:
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A sudden high fever, of up to 40°C
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Severe headache
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Pain behind the eyes
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Muscle and joint pains
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Swollen glands
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Skin rash
Officials are concerned about the steady increase in dengue fever cases in Trinidad and Tobago, and the health ministry and administration are taking all necessary steps to combat the disease.
