(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO - Since November, dengue has claimed six lives, de Ware Tijd learns from an unnamed top health official. John Codrington, head of the AZP lab, neither confirms nor denies the claim, but he does admit an excessive increase in the number of confirmed dengue cases. Compared to December, last year the cases have multiplied as have the number of diagnostic tests. Codrington points out that in 95 percent of the cases dengue type 2 was diagnosed and type 4 in the remaining five percent. Molecular diagnostic tests determine the type of dengue. Type 2 is a very aggressive form and the lab official confirms that more than 100 tests with a positive result have been conducted in December. The dWT source claims there was a small-scale dengue epidemic in 2009. Since then, statistics have not been alarming. But for 2011 a sudden recurrence has come about. Codrington assures the public that his lab is ready to support policymakers. ‘We are equipped to react to emergency requests within 4 hours.

The Dengue Monitoring System enables Suriname to detect indicators at a very early stage. New lab techniques make it possible to identify the virus in a patient’s body. This can cut short any discussion on whether there is a clear cut dengue case or not. Before, physical symptoms were the only way to determine whether someone had dengue. Lab tests were then done abroad. ‘Dengue cannot be eradicated, but it can be contained. Just like we can’t stop the rain from causing the mosquito population to grow,’ Codrington says.