TWO DENGUE CASES CONFIRMED IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

The Health Ministry has confirmed two cases of the mosquito-borne viral illness dengue in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Ministry says these were from samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency, CARPHA last week.

Dengue is spread by the Aedes Egypti mosquito and symptoms include fever, headache, rash, vomiting which could lead to dehydration, muscle pain, dark coloured stool and bleeding from the nose and mouth.

The Ministry is reminding parents to pay keen attention to babies who may become dehydrated and cry without tears.

Those who believe they may be infected with Dengue should NOT use Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Advil and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, but instead use other fever-reducing agents such as Paracetamol, Panadol and Cetamol.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is reminding the public that effectively combating dengue involves reducing the mosquito population by eradicating their breeding sites.

The assurance has been given that the Vector Control Unit at the Central Board of Health will continue its mosquito reduction activities through increased inspections to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites.