May 29, 2017 (Koror, Palau) MOH Bureau of Public Health announced a dengue fever outbreak in Palau warning that severe dengue cases at the Belau National Hospital had increased rapidly in the last couple months resulting in three (3) deaths.
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The cases have risen from 150 in October to 194 in May of this year and three people have died of dengue fever.
According to BPH report, majority of the cases reported in May and April were residents of Koror, (72%) and Airai (14%). Other states affected include Ngarchelong, Aimeliik, Ngatpang, Angaur, Ngardmau, Ngiwal, Melekeok and Ngaraard. Nearly half of all cases were patients between ages of 10-29, with 59% of them male and 41% female.
Signs of dengue include sudden high fever, severe headache & backache, chills, body ache, joint & muscle pain, pain when moving your eyes, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Severe cases, however, can result in Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (can cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the lungs causing difficulty breathing), Dengue Shock Syndrome (a life-threatening condition in which blood pressure is too low to sustain life), and even death. Those with weakened immune systems—young children, the elderly, or those who suffer from chronic diseases—as well as those who have been infected with dengue in the past, are more at risk for severe Dengue.
The public is advised against taking Aspirin, Motrin, or Ibuprofen. If you currently on a medication regimen that requires taking Aspirin, please get yourself tested/checked at the Belau National Hospital as soon as you suspect that you may have symptoms of Dengue Fever.
BPH continue to advise that the Dengue Virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito.
There is no vaccine or cure for Dengue Fever but it is treatable. Prevention is also the key to fighting infection and putting an end to transmission.
Ministry of Health urges that people follow the new visiting hours of the Belau National Hospital. If you need to refill your medications at the Pharmacy, please do so on weekdays (Mondays to Fridays) from 7:30AM to 4:30PM. The Ministry of Health would like to utilize its staff & hours for the caring of patients who are already admitted for Dengue Fever. [/restrict]