The Bahamas - There has been significant increase in dengue activity throughout the Caribbean region and the Region of the Americas with outbreaks reported from Barbados, Grenada, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and the French Territories. 

The Department of Public Health has confirmed that there have been five laboratory confirmed cases to date and more than twenty persons have been investigated for dengue fever in The Bahamas.  The Department is working closely with the Department of Environmental Health Services to prevent and control the spread of dengue fever, a viral infection which is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. 

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, muscle and joint pains, excessive tiredness, headache and pain behind the eyes.  Nausea and vomiting may also occur.  A more severe form of dengue fever, Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, presents with episodes of bleeding.   

There is no vaccine to prevent dengue fever and treatment is given to lessen the symptoms of the infection.  The majority of persons recover within five to fourteen days. 

The public is advised to seek medical attention at your nearest clinic if you experience any of these symptoms. 

The Department of Public Health and the Ministry of Health wish to advise the public to: 

(1) avoid mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing and applying insect repellent to  exposed areas;

(2)  use safe household insecticides indoors;

(3)  where possible, have intact window and door screens; and

(4)  remove all breeding sites that collect water, such as old tires, flower vases, planters and garbage.