As was previously indicated in a Public Health Department statement, DVG is closely monitoring the dengue situation in Aruba. In line with this, DVG informs the public that two individuals infected with dengue were hospitalized. One of these individuals has returned home, while the other remains hospitalized with serious complications due to dengue. It has been verified that neither of these individuals has recently traveled, indicating that these are two cases of locally transmitted dengue. DVG also reports observing more cases than expected—or normal—for this season.
Public advice is to remain vigilant for symptoms of dengue such as fever, headache, stomach pain or upset, diarrhea, body aches, eye pain, and rash. If there is suspicion of infection, consult your GP. It is important to inform your doctor of when you started feeling unwell so appropriate laboratory tests can be conducted.
DVG calls on the public to be responsible and vigilant together to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. To do this, we need to continue preventive measures:
Check all areas inside and outside the home, workplaces, and schools, where water can collect, such as pots, tires, buckets, etc., and discard them;
Treat objects with standing water with special larvicide pellets every 14 days;
Protect yourself against mosquito bites.
The Yellow Fever Mosquito Control (GKMB) has already intensified its controls and preventive measures for several weeks, taking into account the increasing number of cases in Aruba. To assist the community in prevention, GKMB will provide sacks of special larvicide pellets to kill mosquito larvae. These pellets can be placed in containers with constant water, such as flower pots, barrels, and buckets, where mosquitoes can lay eggs. These pellets are available at the DVG office in Oranjestad, from Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and also at the GKMB section in Barcadera 1D, from Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. These sacks of pellets are completely free and one sack per family/household/business can be obtained.
DVG urges the public to continue these preventive measures together to combat mosquito breeding grounds. DVG will continue to monitor the situation closely and take additional measures as necessary.
For more information, visit their Facebook page Directie Volksgezondheid DVG Aruba, follow them on Instagram at directie_volksgezondheid_aruba, or visit their website www.dvg.aw.
You can also call DVG at 522-4200 or email them at [email protected].
