NewsWhore
09-13-2006, 07:30 PM
The government has mobilized ten more government institutions in the fight against the spread of dengue fever, which has claimed 30 lives, primarily in larger cities, at the last count. Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas made the announcement yesterday. Rojas announced that today he will lead an activity with the Armed Forces, Public Health Department, the Pan-American Organization for Health, Secretary of Tourism, and other organizations to converse on the issues, and declared that there are RD$ 30 million pesos available to continue fighting dengue.
He also said that of the 3,000 cases reported, only 60% have been confirmed. Hoy newspaper also reports that the Ministry of Public Health is recommending that anyone with a fever should drink as much water as possible and report to a local health center. The Minister also said that the Office of the First Lady, the ministries of education and the armed forces as well as representatives of different church groups and schools will take part in the effort starting today. The idea is to inform the population on to how to prevent the disease and measures to be taken when the disease is suspect. Over 700,000 houses have been sprayed in an effort to contain the epidemic. A medical expert from the Robert Reid Cabral Children's Hospital, Jesus Feris Iglesias, asked medical staff to stay close to their patients, since those infected with hemorrhagic dengue fever should not be dying. The death toll in the recent outbreak is blamed on the fact that many patients arrive at health centers in extremely poor condition with critical levels of dehydration. The Dominican Republic has the highest mortality rate compared to countries with the same problem. Costa Rica, Cuba, and Mexico have reported 3,000 cases each, without a single death.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)
He also said that of the 3,000 cases reported, only 60% have been confirmed. Hoy newspaper also reports that the Ministry of Public Health is recommending that anyone with a fever should drink as much water as possible and report to a local health center. The Minister also said that the Office of the First Lady, the ministries of education and the armed forces as well as representatives of different church groups and schools will take part in the effort starting today. The idea is to inform the population on to how to prevent the disease and measures to be taken when the disease is suspect. Over 700,000 houses have been sprayed in an effort to contain the epidemic. A medical expert from the Robert Reid Cabral Children's Hospital, Jesus Feris Iglesias, asked medical staff to stay close to their patients, since those infected with hemorrhagic dengue fever should not be dying. The death toll in the recent outbreak is blamed on the fact that many patients arrive at health centers in extremely poor condition with critical levels of dehydration. The Dominican Republic has the highest mortality rate compared to countries with the same problem. Costa Rica, Cuba, and Mexico have reported 3,000 cases each, without a single death.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)