Diagnostic testing kits for dengue fever has ran out at the Kilu’ufi hospital in Malaita province.
Reports reaching the paper on Monday said, the kits were out of stock since last week.
However suspicious cases related to the mosquito borne disease continued to be received by the hospital with a couple of patients being admitted.
Speaking to the Solomon Star an outpatient nurse of the hospital Jemimah Maenu’u said, the12 dengue cases which were recorded in the province since October still remains.
“But we have two more suspicious cases. These patients are currently being admitted at Kilu’ufi under medical observation.”
Due to lack of kits, the hospital was unable to conduct any test on them.
“At the moment we are unable to conduct any test to confirm positive and negative cases until supplies for diagnostic testing kits arrive.”
She was unable to indicate when the kits will arrive.
The nursing officer said many people have showed up with the symptoms of dengue and they have attended to them with advice and medication.
Only Kilu’ufi can do testing for dengue cases in the province, therefore they have advised other health centres and clinics around Malaita to advice sick patients with suspicious symptoms to take paracetamol and drink more fresh water.
Ms. Maenu’u further stated that the worst stage of this disease is when people’s blood (pletelets) is very low.
The public have been advised to keep their surroundings clean at all times.
By AATAI JOHN
