THE Ministry of Health states that blood samples are taken from people suspected of having dengue fever.
In issued a release on Friday it provided clarity on the process for reporting confirmed cases and fatalities linked to dengue fever.
When an individual is hospitalised with suspected dengue fever, medical staff collect a blood sample for testing to ascertain the presence of the virus. Similarly, in cases where a patient with suspected dengue fever passes away, a sample is also obtained for confirmation purposes, the release stated.
All samples, whether from suspected dengue cases or fatalities, are forwarded to the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory (TPHL), which then dispatches them to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) laboratory for thorough analysis.
Due to the testing process, there may be a turnaround time of up to two weeks. As a result, the Ministry of Health can only officially confirm dengue cases and deaths upon receiving a positive laboratory result from CARPHA.
On Wednesday, USAID donated dengue and other arbovirus test kits, including those for Zika and Chikungunya viruses, valued at US$20,000, to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
The kits were donated to assist CARPHA’s ongoing efforts to manage the increasing cases in the Caribbean.
US Ambassador to T&T Candace Bond said, “This donation will help protect the health and safety of the people across the Caribbean and is a testament to the United States’ ongoing collaboration with regional public health stakeholders.
“As dengue cases increase across the region, it is crucial to adopt personal protective measures and invest in health promotion and disease prevention activities to protect vulnerable populations from contracting the disease.”
On Thursday, the ministry confirmed six death in total due to dengue in Trinidad and Tobago and 666 confirmed laboratory cases.
The ministry urges individuals to promptly seek medical attention if they display any symptoms associated with dengue fever. These warning signs include a drop in body temperature, intense and continuous abdominal pain, bleeding from gums or nose, blood in vomit, urine, or stool, persistent vomiting, and dizziness.
It reminded that dengue fever can be transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms typically manifest within five to six days days post-bite, lasting for one to two weeks and encompassing fever, nausea/vomiting, skin rash, headaches (sometimes severe), muscle and joint pains, pain behind the eyes, and diarrhea.
