Deputy Director General of Health, Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thompson
Staff Reporter
New laboratory tests are showing a continuing rise in new cases of dengue fever in the country.
The Deputy Director General of Health, Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thompson gave a recent update in the Government media.
He noted that in the month of April alone, 29 new cases were confirmed by the laboratory at the TTM Moto’otua in Upolu, while Savai’i recorded just one case.
Tagaloa says the figures are based on data from the last week of April, and the Ministry of Health is currently compiling data for the first week of May.
Dengue fever is caused by four types of dengue viruses: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4
The Ministry is awaiting test results from specimens sent to New Zealand to determine which strain is currently circulating in Samoa.
One patient who was sent to New Zealand for treatment and sadly passed away was confirmed to have had DENV-2.
Tagaloa emphasized that there is no specific medicine or treatment for dengue fever.
He also warned the public about the risks of severe forms such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.
Symptoms of dengue fever include high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash.
He urges anyone experiencing symptoms to seek medical attention immediately and reiterated the message: prevention is better than cure.
He also warned the public about the risks of severe forms such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.
Symptoms of dengue fever include high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash.
He urges anyone experiencing symptoms to seek medical attention immediately and reiterated the message: prevention is better than cure.
