Public health authority issues precautionary measures against dengue fever |19 March 2016

Since January 2016, 18 people have tested positive for dengue. All cases are from Mahé with small clusters at Le Niole and Anse Royale. Thirteen (13) were males and five (5) were females. The age range is from 15 to 79 years old.

Seventeen (17) of these cases contracted the infection locally. One foreigner who contracted the infection outside Seychelles has since left. At present three patients are still in hospital but stable. All the rest have recovered and are without complications.

Mosquito control and intensified surveillance measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of dengue. These measures are consistent with control of mosquito borne diseases.

Dengue is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. For a faster containment of the outbreak, the public is being called upon and urged to help in mosquito control interventions in their living and working environments through elimination of mosquito breeding grounds and also self-protection.

 The basic measures are:

• Inspect around your home at least twice a week to check for stagnant water;

• Remove all potential mosquito breeding sites around your homes and workplaces. These include any water holding receptacles with stagnant water;

• Fill up water holding areas on the ground with sand, coral fill, soil etc;

• Remove water holding vases in cemeteries, and fill those that cannot be removed with sand, and put a hole at the bottom to allow water drainage;

• Use mosquito repellents, long sleeved shirts and blouses to prevent bites;

• Use household insecticides to destroy flying mosquitoes, especially in dark corners of the house;

• Sleep under mosquito nets if you have any;

• Mosquito proof your house using shade cloth/mesh

• Report to your health facility immediately if you start to become ill with dengue-like signs and symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, or rash.