Cases increasing at alarming rate, says doctor
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy died of dengue at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara last Friday.
The death was the first since the hospital started receiving cases of dengue fever last week.
“The boy was admitted at the hospital on Thursday after a private clinic referred him to us,” a NRH doctor told the Solomon Star last Friday.
“Unfortunately, he lost his life to the disease this morning,” the doctor added.
He warned that the number of dengue cases has been increasing at an alarming rate.
“Each day we record new suspected cases coming in. Up until today (Friday), we have recorded 51 positive cases,” the doctor said.
The revelation dispels earlier comments by NRH chief executive officer Dr Steve Aumanu that there was no dengue outbreak, nor did the hospital recorded any dengue cases.
The doctor said while this is not yet an outbreak, the truth is the number of cases is increasing.
“How come the CEO continues to reject that there are no dengue cases when new cases are attended to each day and the number kept increasing?
“I am surprise the CEO is not telling the truth. He is right in a sense that it’s not an outbreak but for him to say that there is no dengue cases recorded, nor attended to, is all wrong.
“We have so far recorded 50 plus cases, with new cases coming in every day,” the doctor said.
Meanwhile, the doctor advised the Honiara public to take precaution.
“We have records that show and daily increase of cases.
“I urge the public to take extra care and be proactive to avoid catching the disease.
“Please clean your homes, change water of your pot plants and use mosquito repellents during morning and evening to avoid being bitten by mosquitos.
“Try as much as possible to stop the breeding sites of the mosquitos around your homes.
“Symptoms of dengue fever include headache, high fever, joint pain, body ache, dizziness and people will be lying on bed the whole time.
“Danger signs usually appear between day four and seven when the fever goes down.
“The warning signs are persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding gum, coughing, and diarrhoea.”
Those experiencing those signs are advised to seek medical attention immediately.
It’s understood the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO
