DHS Says Dengue Cases Above Threshold

Last month, we reported that dengue figures up to mid-July had surpassed the number of cases for the entire year of 2022, with over eight hundred and eighty-one clinical cases detected. The data showed that the highest numbers of cases were concentrated in the Orange Walk and Cayo Districts.  Since then, those figures have increased and with the rainy season now in full effect, it is expected to spike. Director of Health Service Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa gave an update on the data and what residents can do for prevention. 

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Health Services, MOHW

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa

“With regard to infectious diseases, I am glad that you asked about dengue. We are now in the rainy season and we do have dengue. It is above the threshold that we would want it to be. We are in the alert zone for Corozal, Belize and Cayo, so these are the areas reporting the higher numbers and then we are above the threshold for Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo. So all districts are reporting more cases than we would want or than we would expect. Now, we continue to do our part with regards to spraying. I am sure that you all would have heard the spray trucks passing by; we have our vector control officers going in, working on the streets and doing larviciding in the drains, etc. But we also need to ensure that we open our windows when we hear the trucks so that the spray can come in and be effective. It is advisable as well to go walk around your yard, remove any containers that can collect water, remove any breeding sites that are around your house for mosquitoes. Once we do our part, keep our grasses cut as well, keep the drains in the front as clean as possible – once we do our part, as well, we can reduce the mosquito population.”