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CHCC issues dengue alert
A Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. advisory dated Dec. 22, 2016, is urging CNMI residents to be cautious of mosquito bites after cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, was reported in Palau.
A mosquito of the Aedes specie gets infected with dengue once it bites a person who has the dengue virus in their blood. The Aedes mosquito is native to both the CNMI and Palau.
People with the dengue virus can either be mild or asymptomatic, which means that symptoms aren’t as pronounced. Symptoms of dengue include at least two of these symptoms—fever, severe headache, severe eye pain, joint pain, muscle and/or bone pain, rashes, mild bleeding of the nose or gums or easy bruising.
No vaccine is available for dengue while no specific treatment has been discovered to combat the disease, making bite prevention the most important weapon against it. If untreated, dengue can be fatal.
Aedes mosquitoes bite in and out of homes, around the clock. CHCC recommends the use of repellent on exposed skin as well as wearing long sleeved shirts and pants for additional protection. Window and door screens provide even more protection for indoors.
CHCC recommends seeing a primary healthcare provider immediately if you are returning from Palau and are experiencing such symptoms. For more questions and information, contact CHCC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness director Warren Villagomez through 234-8950 or territorial epidemiologist Dr. Paul White through 234-8950.
