High incidence of dengue fever in Suriname

The Bureau of Public Health (BOG) has recently seen an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed dengue cases in Suriname. Positive cases are particularly noticeable in North Paramaribo and Kuatta.

Dengue virus is the causative agent of dengue fever (DFF) also known as dengue fever, hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). DHF and DSS are two types of severe dengue. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that bite during the day.

The incubation period for dengue virus is 3-14 days (usually 4-7), after the bite of an infected mosquito. Most cases of dengue virus infection do not show symptoms. Non-acute dengue virus infection is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Sudden fever (up to 41°C) with chills.
• Headache, especially behind the eyes
• Muscle and joint pain.
• general malaise
• nausea;
• vomiting.
• Cough;
• sore throat.

If you experience these complaints, it is essential to go to the doctor! If symptoms worsen, see a doctor immediately. If you have dengue, you can prevent others from getting infected by (continuing) using anti-mosquito products yourself (lotion, gel or spray), wearing covered clothes and also sleeping under a mosquito net during the day.

Non-acute dengue virus infection clears up after a few days to a week. People can get dengue several times.

The best way to prevent dengue is to clean the breeding areas, cover the water supply (this includes all things that contain water such as vases, flower pot bases, fountains, car tires, broken gutters, old washing machines, and the like) and make sure that mosquitoes don’t bite (He sleeps under a mosquito net.)

The Ministry of Health and the BOG are closely monitoring the situation to prevent the spread of a dengue fever epidemic.