-dangerous haemorrhagic form seen in some patients
By Iana Seales
Dengue fever cases are up across the country with slight indications that the severe haemorrhagic form has affected a few persons but Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud said the numbers are not enough to cause alarm.
Up to last Friday the health sector had recorded 103 cases of dengue- some nine cases more than the corresponding period last year. There was no actual breakdown of the mild and severe forms but according to Persaud hemorrhagic dengue fever is rare in Guyana though he pointed out that this particular form is on the increase in neighbouring Brazil and a few other countries in the region.
On Monday Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had underscored the need for a huge investment in vector control in the country to adequately address such diseases, and he pointed to the importance of mosquito nets. The local bed net programme that was initiated in the hinterland will soon roll into coastal areas. Ramsammy had also noted that Guyana had 400 cases of dengue last year.
