by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
Since its outbreak in 2014, dengue cases have increased in many island nations in the Pacific, and continue to increase. This has prompted many to carefully monitor, in order to avoid contracting the disease as it is believed dangerous.
Vanuatu, among other Pacific Island nations, is now seeing an increase in the number of dengue cases. Just last week, Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health has confirmed two dengue cases from Port Villa. The cases were detected by the National Disease Surveillance System. Blood samples of the two cases were then sent to New Zealand for further testing.
While the two victims have been closely monitored and are waiting for the results from New Zealand, this week sees an addition of six more cases, to a total of eight.
In 2014, Vanuatu in its response to dengue, has reconvened the Dengue Early Warning Committee, to address dengue in Vanuatu.
According to Health Ministry Director, George Taleo, the committee is working tirelessly to strengthen its surveillance operations in the nation, to ensure suspected dengue cases are detected early, so the victims are closely monitored and treated accordingly.
While the committee is focusing on dengue detection, it will also be on alert for threats posed by similar mosquito borne diseases; Zika and Chikungunya that are now prevalent in the Pacific.
Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health is now calling on the residents in the capital to cooperate and work together to reduce breeding sites for mosquitoes.
Image Source: Radio New Zealand Website
