Experts place French side on
‘epidemic alert’ for dengue
MARIGOT--Following a meeting in St. Barths on December 3 to assess the dengue situation on both islands, the working committee of experts on infectious diseases and Institut de Veille Sanitaire (IVS) have declared St. Martin is now in an “epidemic alert” phase.
According to a release, there has been a progressive increase in the number of suspected clinical cases from September up to the last week of November, leading to a rise above the pre-alert threshold in the last three weeks. However, numbers were not mentioned.
The number of confirmed biological cases also rose above the pre-alert threshold.
Nine cases of dengue were confirmed and hospitalised in St. Martin in November. Seven were adults and two children. Six of those adults are considered to be in serious condition, five considered severe, and one with suspected, but not confirmed, haemorrhagic dengue.
The virus DEN 1 has been the predominant serotype in St. Martin since the start of the rainy season, the release stated.
Suspected cases have also seen an increase in St. Barths, particularly in the last two weeks of November (weeks 47 and 48). It was estimated there had been 50 cases for the whole island in the last week of November.
Confirmed biological cases are also taking on a similar pattern, with two hospitalised adults considered to be in serious condition. Authorities said they were not quite certain which serotype was circulating in St. Barths, which is still in a pre-alert phase. However, authorities will decide next week whether St. Barths is also in an epidemic alert situation.
Health authorities in St. Martin announced a pre-alert phase on November 27 and cautioned that the situation could turn into an epidemic phase if all criteria for observation and tests were met.
The public is urged to do its part by helping to eradicate any breeding grounds at home by emptying any receptacles that might contain stagnant water, such as flower vases and car tyres, and to cover cisterns.
