Dengue deaths now at 12 this year

The country has recorded another dengue death this year.

The latest brings the country’s dengue fatalities for 2024 to 12.

A release from the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday stated that there have been no additional laboratory-confirmed cases since Friday.

As such the confirmed number of dengue cases remains at 1,053.

But, former health minister Dr Fuad Khan said blame for the increase in dengue cases and deaths cannot be placed solely on the Ministry of Health when it comes to ensuring dengue remains under control.

Instead, Khan stressed that people need to clean their surroundings on their own.

“As a former minister, the Health Ministry could only do as much as the Insect Vector Control people will allow and they have to be the ones to take the mantle and run with it. The ministry itself can push them but sometimes the Insect Vector people have a lot of their own problems such as no foggers, no materials, less staff, and no temporary workers and that’s how it goes. So the ministry has to be on top of it and become a little more proactive.

“The bottom line is the cleanliness of your surroundings and that is what has to be pushed. Yes, it’s a problem but people need to be educated that you have to clean your surroundings, not just in front of your yard but all the lots around you. What I have seen is a lot of places with derelict vehicles in their yards and those are breeding grounds for mosquitoes that will cause serious dengue,” Khan said.

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