Health Dept. urges precautions as dengue outbreak hits STT, STJ

The V.I. Health Department is urging residents to take precautions to prevent further transmission of dengue, citing a rise in the number of cases in the St. Thomas-St. John District.

“To date we have 82 reported cases of dengue in the territory and we are once again strongly urging residents to take steps now to prevent wider transmission,” said Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said earlier this week. “Remove standing water from around your home, repair your window screens if there are holes or tears, and use mosquito repellent when outdoors. These simple steps significantly reduce the risk of dengue.”

As of Friday, there were 63 reported cases on St. Thomas, 18 cases on St. John, and one case reported on St. Croix, according to the Health Department statement. “We are aware that our numbers on St. Croix are under-estimating our true dengue burden, and I encourage residents to get tested for dengue if you have symptoms,” said Dr. Esther Ellis, the Health Department’s Territorial Epidemiologist. “Additionally with recent heavy rains, standing water allows mosquitoes to hatch and reproduce.”