Unofficial statistics from the Insect Vector Control (IVC) Division have revealed there are more than 1,800 reported cases of dengue fever in the country. The county of St George East has the highest number-445. Specialist medical officer in the division, Dr Clive Tilluckdharry, said dengue was endemic to T&T and the four types existed. He said at any given time there could be increased activity. Tilluckdharry said there was a baseline of 500 to 600 cases a year but in recent years that figure had increased. Up to July this year, there have been 1,885 reported cases.
Tilluckdharry showed a graph explaining the trend of dengue since 1996 when there were 3,588 reported cases. He was speaking at a press conference held by the Ministry of Local Government in Maraval yesterday, which included line minister Chandresh Sharma; Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan; Medical Chief of Staff at Port-of-Spain General Hospital Dr Colin Furlonge; Unemployment Relief Programme manager Thomas George; chairman of the National Commission for Self Help Surujdeo Mangaroo; and representatives from the medical fraternity and other government institutions. According to the statistics, in 1999 there were 1,192 cases. For the period 2004 to 2007 dengue was not as prevalent.
T&T reported 2,340 cases for that four-year period. The lowest number reported was in 2005 with 400 cases. In 2008, there were 4,921 cases, in 2009–2,508, and in 2010–4,894. Tilluckdharry said: "To date we are seeing about 1,800 cases. "Now when we talk about dengue, it is unfortunate that people die from dengue because of certain conditions," he added. "They would have been exposed to it in the past and developed antibodies which would not recognise the new virus and then develop complications and end up in dengue haemorrhagic shock. "It is unfortunate that we have seen the suspected death of an eight-year-old child."
Reported cases by county for January to July 22:
• St George West-159
• St George Central-270
• St George East-445
• St Andrew/David-226
• Caroni-332
• Victoria West-138
• Victoria East/Nariva/Mayaro-108
• St Patrick-207