Two more deaths from dengue fever were recorded in the country.

The Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday that there were 911 laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue fever and 11 laboratory-confirmed deaths.

In its previous update on Thursday, the ministry reported 911 cases and nine deaths due to dengue fever.

The ministry pointed out that dengue fever can be transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Symptoms appear within five to six days of the bite, last one to two weeks, and may include fever, headache (sometimes severe), pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea.

“Anyone who shows signs or symptoms of dengue fever should immediately consult their doctor or the nearest health facility,” the ministry said.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said yesterday that homeowners who refused to clean their premises would receive legal letters.

He pointed out that the other two deaths from dengue fever were reported yesterday.

“We have started re-contacting the first 400 or 500 people who received a notice to initiate legal proceedings. So far, we have sent a legal notice to 16 people who did not comply.

“It is unfortunate that we have to go down this path when we could actually take a very simple measure, namely clearing yards and houses of these small to medium-sized containers.

“But the law exists and the law must be applied if we are to stop the upward trend in both cases and deaths,” Deyalsingh said.

Hundreds come

for prostate examinations

Several hundred men lined up for prostate cancer screening yesterday as they attended the Ministry of Health’s free screening sessions at Trincity Mall in Trincity.

Speaking to reporters during the screening, Deyalsingh said that men of Afro-Trinidadian descent have a higher risk of prostate cancer than men of Indo-Trinidadian descent.

The prostate cancer screenings were conducted using testing technology that provides results in about ten minutes.

Deyalsingh said there were big differences between the two ethnic groups.

“For every Indo-Trinidadian case, there are four Afro-Trinidadian cases, and for every Indo-Trinidadian case who dies of prostate cancer, there are five men of African descent.

“The particular type of prostate cancer we see in Afro-Caribbean men is very aggressive, so hopefully we can detect many of these men as early as possible,” Deyalsingh said.

Deyalsingh said more men felt more comfortable with the rapid screening than with the digital rectal examination (DRE).

“This is the second activity using a new method to test prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men.”

“Before the introduction of this test, men could determine whether their prostate was enlarged through a blood test or a digital prostate exam, and men were reluctant to do this.

“This simple, 10-minute test, which we are now offering to the public for the second time, gives you a PSA result of four and above or four and below in 10 minutes with a simple finger prick like a diabetes test, and the results are fantastic,” Deyalsingh said.

Tips for reducing sources

The Ministry of Health advises citizens that the best way to reduce mosquito-borne diseases is to eliminate breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito species.

The public is urged to:

1. Remove any unwanted items, abandoned vehicles or equipment in the yard or surrounding area that collect water and can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes;

2. Cover water containers such as tanks, barrels, drums or buckets with a mosquito-proof cover.

3. Cut down and remove all bushes and undergrowth, as mosquitoes can settle there.

4. Clean drains and gutters to ensure unhindered water drainage.

5. As a means of personal protection, use mosquito nets and insect repellent when appropriate.