By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
In a follow-up on the dengue situation on Guam, the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) confirmed Tuesday that a second person with locally acquired dengue infection was identified, after being seen at the Guam Memorial Hospital ER. The individual is an adult male who resides along Swamp Road, Dededo.
“Our Public Health response team has been prepared to respond to any additional cases as they present themselves. Our people should know that every expert and resource at our disposal is being used to address this issue aggressively and to keep our people safe,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “Yesterday, I met with Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization’s Western Regional Director for the Western Pacific, who expressed confidence in our response plan and the team charged with its implementation.”
Along with the first dengue case confirmed on September 11, 2019, these are the only two locally acquired cases that have been detected in Guam in the last 75 years. All previous cases were imported from off-island. DPHSS remains prepared and anticipates the identification of other suspected and confirmed cases.
The Department of Public Health and Social Services, Office of the Governor and Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense, are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other local and federal partners to minimize the spread of the dengue virus and to coordinate a community-wide effort to limit its scope.
The containment efforts include the immediate canvassing and notification of potentially affected areas, spraying, and ongoing surveillance as required by Public Health’s response plan. The best preventive measure for all Guam residents is to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, which are primarily artificial containers that hold water where mosquitoes lay eggs. Dengue fever is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot spread directly from person to person.
“The health and safety of our community is a top priority, and I am confident in the response plan being deployed by our public health professionals in collaboration with the U.S. Center for Disease Control,” Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said. “The community has the full commitment and support of our Administration and our partners to reduce the spread of the dengue virus.”
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