Black Immigrant Daily News

The Cayman Islands Public Health Department has confirmed one (1) case of dengue in the Cayman Islands.

Dengue, which is prevalent throughout certain countries in the region, is not considered to be endemic to the Cayman Islands as historically there has been no sustained transmission of the disease. Epidemiological data for the territory shows an average of 1-4 imported cases per year, however in 2020 and 2021 there were no reported cases of dengue in the Cayman Islands.

“The Public Health Department works very closely with the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) to take vector control measures every time a suspected case is reported,” explained Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, Medical Officer of Health.

Dr. Alan Wheeler, Director of the MRCU, confirmed that the Unit “has begun preventative control measures across the Cayman Islands and will continue to monitor and adjust its activities based on surveillance findings and guidance from the Public Health department.” This guidance is greatly impacted by the Health Services Authority’s (HSA) capacity to test for vector born diseases, such as dengue, locally.

The Public Health Department is urging residents to be aware of the symptoms of dengue as a precaution following increased activity in the region. With the frequency of travel between the Cayman Islands and other regional destinations, the likelihood of an increase imported cases is a strong possibility.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by the female mosquitoes Aedes aegypti. Symptoms of the disease include the acute onset of high fever and at least two of the following:

Severe frontal headacheJoint painPain behind the eyesMuscle and or bone painA rash (sometimes) may be visible two to five days after the onset of fever.Nausea or vomiting (sometimes)Signs of bleeding (such as pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin, nosebleed,bleeding gums, blood in urine or stool, or vaginal bleeding) are seen in a severe form of dengue fever known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, severe dengue, or dengue shock syndrome.

The Public Health Department has a year-round surveillance system that involves weekly monitoring of potential mosquito-borne illnesses reported by public and private physicians that have proven very sensitive when detecting dengue cases.

Recommended prevention measures include wearing long sleeves, long pants, and mosquito bite repellent containing at least 50% DEET. Persons should also eliminate potential Aedes aegypti breeding grounds by turning over sources of standing water around their homes and other buildings.

In addition, the Mosquito Research and Control Unit will continue its surveillance efforts and ongoing work to identify and eliminate Aedes aegypti breeding grounds around the Islands.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

La compagnie dominicaine Sky High a mis en service, ce jeudi, un avion de type Embraer 190 sur sa ligne directe entre la République dominicaine et la Martinique. D’une capacité de 97 places, le nouvel appareil peut emporter deux fois plus de passagers que l’avion qui desservait jusqu’ici la ligne.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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ACTING Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Wendell Williams said the response time of officers in the Central Division to a report that men in what appeared to be police uniforms were robbing a family was “unacceptable.”

Speaking at the police weekly media briefing on Thursday, Williams said the response time for calls is something the police are addressing and have been for some time.

On August 20, four armed men in police tactical wear robbed the owner of R Maye Hardware, Double Palm Guest House chains and Hanggers Extreme Restaurant and Bar, Rajendra Maye and his family. They were robbed of money and jewellery at their home in Chase Village, Chaguanas.

Maye said around 4.40 pm the four men entered his home, tied up his wife and daughter’s boyfriend, and took his daughter to get the family’s valuables at gunpoint.

In a television interview he said his neighbours and family called police from the Central Division, but by the time they arrived, the bandits had already commandeered a vehicle and escaped.

“The police have a clear objective set in terms of our response time that speaks to our patrol policy and the issues around it. It is a work in progress. We know where we are in terms of average response time and we know what we are working towards in terms of bringing that response time down,” Williams said when asked about the time it took for police to respond, adding that steps are being taken to correct undue delay.

Maye said before the men left his premises a call was made to E-999 and the Chaguanas Police Station. Officers there said they were going to notify their colleagues at the Freeport Police Station. Maye said police at the Freeport station hung up on them twice.

While this was going on the bandits were blocked from leaving because one of Maye’s hardware trucks was preventing their getaway vehicle from leaving.

Williams added: “What was reported does give the indicator that there was an unacceptable lapse of time, and so we are treating with that. We are treating with it and more so because it involves persons using apparel purporting to be police officers. That is something we take personally because it puts each of us who are really standing to protect and serve.”

Williams added that police are working on several leads, but up to Thursday no one was arrested.

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