By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
With the reporting of over 100 probable and confirmed dengue fever cases, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (GRMI) issued a State of Health Emergency due to a dengue fever outbreak on Ebeye island.
According to the declaration, the current circulating strain is dengue type 3, which is different to the previous outbreak in 2011 (a dengue type 4 outbreak when over 1600 cases were reported), which increases the health risks for those who contract the illness a second time.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Jack Niedenthal, said the situation is currently contained to Ebeye but days of heavy rain has the rest of the nation on high alert.
Ebeye is conducting an island-wide clean-up of potential mosquito breeding areas. In addition, GRMI issued a travel advisory, effective immediately, that restricts travel from Ebeye to outer atolls and islands that are not equipped to manage severe dengue cases.
Both mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are abundant in the Marshall Islands.
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