Saint Lucia MoH asks to adopt safety measures against dengue

Castries, Saint Lucia: The Ministry of Health Wellness, Elderly and Affairs appealed to the general public to follow the possible measures to safeguard themselves and their families from the dengue infection. The message was shared by the Ministry amid the looming threat of dengue fever across the island nation.

The health authorities have especially focused on reminding the Saint Lucian public, principals, staff, teachers, parents and students that mosquito breeding sites can be found on the school premises.

Emphasising the high chances of infection spread from or in school premises, the health ministry stated that the mosquito responsible for the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, zika and chikungunya – Aedes Aegypti, can easily breed on school premises.

The Ministry outlined that via teachers, students and other school staff, the infection can easily spread if caught. Therefore, the school management should focus on weekly inspecting the sites to eliminate the threat of active mosquito breeding.

It furthermore outlined that the health ministry performed ground surveillance at all the schools. Following this, the potential and active mosquito breeding sites were eliminated. Along with this, the Ministry and other health authorities also performed fogging operations to ensure that the students were safe as well as comfortable in the school environment.

Moreover, the Health Ministry also motivated the staff, teachers and the students of Saint Lucia to take care of cleanliness in the school premises. It has urged the school staff to practice proper disposal of garbage, including plastic cups, plates, wrappers and other small miscellaneous items, which can become breeding sites for mosquitoes.

Furthermore, it asked the parents and guardians to clearly examine the signs and symptoms of dengue fever in their children. The Ministry noted that the symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains and a red itchy rash.

It also outlined that one of the basic characteristics in children is the formation of glands around the neck. The Ministry also outlined that if the children feel feverish for more than five days, then the parents or guardians must seek medical attention.

It additionally outlined that together, everyone can work to improve the dengue situation in Saint Lucia. The Ministry of Health will continue to provide the public with updates on the dengue situation in the Caribbean country.