Dengue outbreak declared in the Turks and Caicos Islands
An extensive fogging schedule will be implemented across each island in the Turks and Caicos in response to the rising cases of dengue fever.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services says the TCI received confirmation of its first dengue case on October 17, 2023. Since this time, through raised awareness with the public and health care providers, testing has increased, with 13 confirmed cases of dengue being identified, with a further 74 suspected cases.
The Ministry says these recent increases signal the start of a dengue outbreak in the TCI. The confirmed cases are distributed across the islands as follows:
- Providenciales: 12 confirmed
- Grand Turk: 1 confirmed
It notes there are four dengue virus types. Two types of dengue virus have since been identified in the TCI- type two and type three (DENV-2 and DENV-3).
Eight confirmed cases are type three, which can result in a more severe form of the disease, while type two has been identified in one confirmed case. The other cases did not meet the criteria for typing.
Minister of Health and Human Services, Shaun D. Malcolm, stated: “In response to the dengue cases, the Ministry of Health and Human Services, through the Vector Control Unit of the Environmental Health Department, has ramped up vector control activities throughout the islands including treatment of swamps, large bodies of standing water, premises inspections and fogging. He also noted that through collaboration with the Deputy Governor, approval for additional Vector Control Officers has been granted and that the onboarding of these individuals has been prioritised”.
Dengue is a viral illness that spreads to people by biting an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. These mosquitoes also spread Zika, chikungunya, and other viruses.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is present in the Turks and Caicos Islands and can spread these diseases.
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