ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID ARUBA

Amigoe: Public Health-minister interrogated on dengue Looks like AVP is upset over something else other than the tourism numbers that the current government kept quiet. It’s unbelievable that Wever didn’t take action earlier. “That is a decision against the public interest.”

The AVP wants to know whose decision it was to keep the serious situation around the outbreak of dengue silent for so long. Two AVP-parliamentarians, Richard Visser and Andy Lee have a list with 19 questions for Booshi Wever, minister of Public Health and Milieu. It’s unbelievable that Wever didn’t take action earlier. “That is a decision against the public interest.”

Visser and Lee want to know whose decision it was to keep the big number of dengue cases a secret. What actions is the minister going to take against this person?

The AVP wants to see numbers of the amount of registered dengue cases between 1999 and January 2006. The party also wants to know how the numbers are going to be published in the future.

More questions:

What’s the exact definition of a dengue-epidemic; who determines it and is it being maintained in Aruba; what is the reason for no longer keeping track of the cases of dengue registered; is there enough equipment and manpower to get the epidemic under control; why didn’t the minister take action when it became clear that there was a disagreement between the minister and the Dengue Outbreak Team; how and how often did the Public Health Administration and the several instances involved with dengue contacted each other; who informed the minister of the dengue outbreak and when and what did the minister decide to do at that moment; how does the minister think to protect the society, namely the vulnerable groups like the elderly and the children.

First of all, without numbers, it is impossible for the Dengue Outbreak Team to take appropriate measures. The current situation is more serious than in the past years, due to the many rainfalls of the last months, and this is something to be concerned about.

Visser and Lee want a copy of the dengue-protocol, so that they can get an idea of what is going on. In case of an epidemic, the public had to be approached more aggressively, because getting rid of standing water can prevent further spreading of the virus. The cases of dengue have to be published on a daily basis; more campaigns have to be conducted and the intonation of the campaign should be more acute.

Director of the Public Health Administration, Trevor van Gellecum highlights the seriousness of the situation, even though he doesn’t see the need for this frightening effect.

The dengue virus is being taken across by the Aedes Aegyptii mosquito. Dengue is found in certain areas of the tropics or sub-tropics. The Caribbean, including Aruba is one of them. The mosquito lays her eggs in standing water. The disease can be wiped out by exterminating the mosquito and by avoiding the breeding places to develop.

In classic dengue cases, it takes 5 to 8 days after the infection for the symptoms to show, which are headache, fever, pain behind the eyes, back pain, and pain in the legs and joints. The headache is often heavy and becomes worse with movements. Additional symptoms are sleeplessness, listlessness, lack of appetite, unpleasant taste in the mouth, and weakness.
It sometimes also comes with rash on the chest and on the inside of the arms and it itches and the skin peels.

A second time infected with the dengue virus may be very dangerous, because it can cause internal bleeding. The seriousness of the internal bleeding disorder depends on the timeframe between two infections. The longer the time, the more dangerous it can be.

The last time Aruba experienced an epidemic, which is 19 years ago, 24.000 people got infected, so the chance of a dangerous second dengue for this group of people is big and very alarming. According to Van Gellecum, the current virus in Aruba is different and harmless. It causes fever and rash just like dengue. In this case, the rash comes before the fever, while in the case of dengue the sequence is reversed and the fever is higher.

The Yellow Fever Service and Mosquito-control (GKMB) has already conducted two spray-campaigns over the entire island, one in December and one from January 18th till February 2nd. However, during their house visits, the GKMB still finds many mosquitoes and larva. Especially the saucers underneath planters, vases with flowers, and plant cuttings in water are breeding places for mosquito larva. The GKMB warns that mosquito eggs stay alive for a long time, until there is moist again for new larva to develop.

The GKMB hopes for more collaboration of the population. With her 21 employees, the GKMB cannot be everywhere at the same time and we cannot stop the rain from falling. They really need the cooperation of the population.