Health - Channel 5 Belize

It’s Dengue Season, Let’s Learn About Mosquitoes

Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions. Most people infected with dengue won’t show symptoms, but if they do, they might experience high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and a rash. Fortunately, most recover within one to two weeks. Dengue fever is on the rise and, as we reported earlier this week, Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo districts recorded over three hundred cases since the beginning of the season. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Recognized by white markings on its legs, the Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread a number of viruses and other disease agents. These illnesses include dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. The vector comes from Africa, but is now present in various tropical, subtropical and temperate regions across the world.

Dr. Jorge Hidalgo, Internist

“That is the variety of the mosquito that, and the females, for the eggs, they need the blood and then they deposit the eggs and then in these good climate conditions, especially flooding.”

It’s dengue season and the swarms of mosquitoes that come alive at sunset are voracious. Males thrive on fruit, while their female counterparts are bloodsuckers. They need it to mature their eggs. These small biting flies are attracted to chemical substances produced by mammals, including ammonia and carbon dioxide. Hosts include horses and humans.

Dr. Jorge Hidalgo

“The mosquitoes have developed abilities to become more resistant as with everything else. The mosquitoes create especially the virus because dengue is a virus disease with the mosquitoes ability to survive in urban and suburban regions and the perfect conditions. What are the perfect conditions? Right now, it’s rainy season, it’s hurricane season. We have flooding and we have water contained in different areas that are essentially the perfect space for the mosquito, for their eggs to hatch and we have more.”

Dengue fever is frequently asymptomatic; if symptoms appear they typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. In mild cases, treatment is focused on treating pain symptoms. Severe cases of dengue require hospitalization.

Kim Bautista, Chief of Vector Control Operations

“As a country, we have reported eight hundred and sixty-five dengue cases, three hundred and eighty-three lab-confirmed cases, and four hundred and eighty-two clinical confirmed cases. Seventy-five percent of those cases come from the Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo districts. The Toledo District, majority of their cases are from Punta Gorda Town and, of course, Bella Vista.”

Back in March, the Pan American Health Organization warned of an increase in dengue cases in the Americas. At the time, over three point five million cases and more than one thousand deaths had been reported in the region.

Kim Bautista

“In 2019, a record was set for the highest incidents of dengue in the region. At that time, the region saw three point one-eight million dengue cases. That record was broken in 2023 where the region saw four point five million cases. We’re at week twenty-seven, but the most recent report from PAHO shows that at week twenty-four of this year, there has been a reported ten point one million cases. So you could see where, in the past five years, the region has seen three records set for the highest incidents of dengue ever.”

Several environmental and social factors contribute to the spread of dengue, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and the El Nino phenomenon. Rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization also play a crucial role, including poor housing conditions and inadequate water and sanitation services create mosquito breeding sites through discarded objects that can collect water.

Dr. Jorge Hidalgo

“Most of the time, the classic signs of dengue is the patients, after they are bitten by the mosquito, we have an incubation period that can vary between three to fourteen days and an average of seven days. In that moment then the patient starts to develop initially fever and this fever can last up to five days. This fever with associated symptoms, most commonly the patients are going to complain about having pain behind the eyes, muscle ache or, in some other areas, we call it breaking bone fever because it’s a lot of pain in the muscles and also it’s like arthritis type of pain.”

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa calls for action, advising strongly for heightened efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and protect against mosquito bites. There is also a need for increased readiness in health services for early diagnosis and timely clinical management, and continuous work to educate the population about dengue symptoms and when to seek prompt medication. Isani Cayetano for News Five.

Dengue Season is Here

Along with the frequent rains will come mosquitoes, and the dengue season. The Ministry of Health and Wellness reports that up to the last week that ended on Saturday, there have been a total of over eight hundred dengue cases. And where you live might matter more when you hear where many of the cases originate. Interestingly, the Belize District no longer has the highest number of dengue cases. The Chief of Vector Control Operations, Kim Bautista, gave us the figures this evening.

Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW

“As a country, we have reported 865 dengue cases, 383 clinic lab confirmed cases. and 482 clinical confirmed cases. 75 percent of those cases come from the Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo districts. The Toledo District, the majority of their cases, are from Orange, Cayo, Punta Gorda Town, and of course Bella Vista, which geographically is right on the boundary between the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts, but it is administrated by our Stann Creek staff, but for reporting purposes, it is still classified under the data going from the Toledo District. So the Toledo District accounts for 26 percent of our cases or 224. As of this past week, they account for the highest incidents of cases in country at this time. The Orange Walk District has 197 cases total for the year, 23%, followed by the Cayo District 26% of the total cases or 225. The largest urban epicenter believes district believes city and by extension the district used to account for majority of the dengue cases over recent years that trend has shifted quite a bit. At this same point where in terms of week 27, if you compare week 20 up to week 27 of last year versus week 27 of this year, there’s only a 5% increase. At week 27, last year total, you were looking at 823, and this year you’re looking at 863. So there’s a 5% increase. However, at the week 18, which is at the end of April, since the end of April, we have been below that threshold. And we have been below the trend from last year. So following the projections that we’re seeing we were actually on trend to if we follow this pattern to actually end the year, lower with a lower number of cases than we had last year. So last year, as a country, we reported 3,054 cases, 1,370 laboratory confirmed cases and 1,370 clinical.”

Cleaning Up Swampy Areas Decreases Dengue Cases

Bautista explains that the climate and preparations for the change of weather can add to the potential rise in dengue cases. While in Toledo the increase in transmission occurred during the extensive drought, in other parts of the country when people stockpiled tires as part of beach reclamation, the numbers also spiked in those communities. Overall, however, Bautista advises the public that removing empty drums, buckets containers and coconut shells can prevent an increase in dengue cases.

Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW

“When we look at the data that our field officers captured the containers that are most positive for the mosquito that transmits dengue tends to be tires and uncovered drums and buckets and things like that. So though you have a drought if you still have the containers out there, to actually breed these mosquitoes, there is the potential for transmission. When the rainy season comes along, it just, I would say exposes the true situation that is out there in terms of the number of containers that are breeding sites, as we call them, that you have out there. And so you would tend to see an increase in cases. So when you look at the amount of tires and, breeding sites bottles being hoarded for recycling and things like that, these breeding sites are – coupled with the fact that you also have issues in terms of low-lying areas poor drainage and, things like that.”

Malathion Spraying Units Delayed by Rains

Bautista said that the recent rains had delayed the schedule for the spraying of malathion to prevent the mosquitoes from multiplying. And with expanding communities and fourteen units to spread across the country, there’s been a challenge in getting to all the neighborhoods. He says they will get on schedule now that the rains have held up.

Kim Bautista, Vector Control Chief, Operations, MoHW

“While you may have maybe just under 200 official communities in the localities in the country. There are many others, well over 200 communities that you’re looking at. And so you basically cannot target all of these communities within a reasonable period of time. So we tend to target the larger urban areas first. For example, Belize City is divided into nine sanitary zones. And we target those zones, we have three vehicles target those zones. Within a typical day, you can only spray. I believe it is a maximum of four to four and a half hours because you cannot apply chemicals in using that milk. During the day, because it will basically evaporate, you cannot apply when it is raining, it will not work. And if you apply a after it has really, it would have to be a minimum of one hour after the rain has passed. You basically have maybe let’s see from about 5am to about 6 to 6. 30 in the morning, and then from about six to about nine o’clock in the evening so it’s a sharp window that you have to go and you’re actually driving about roughly about seven, eight miles per hour. to actually do a proper spray. You could imagine that it’s a slow process and then the amount of communities that you need to cover. So basically like the situation improved late last week on Friday somewhat on Saturday, and then the rain started again yesterday and disrupted schedule because we’re, as a ministry, we have given approval for spring to take place even through the weekends to basically catch up on our schedule which, was previously disrupted by extensive rains. Initially, when we start, we will do two to three consecutive, like morning, evening, or morning, evening, morning. And then after that it’s on a weekly basis.”

Belize Intensifies Prevention Efforts Against Drug Abuse

As the world commemorates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, today Belize is emphasizing the importance of investing in prevention efforts against drug abuse. The theme for this year is “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”

In a press release issued today, the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC) under the Ministry of Health and Wellness said that it is “committed to preventing substance misuse through education, research, and community engagement. The goal is to create a nation where individuals and communities thrive, free from the harmful effects of substance misuse.”

The National Drug Abuse Control Council says it stands united with a firm call to prioritize prevention in the fight against substance misuse.

NDACC leads Belize in prevention efforts through school-based initiatives that educate youths on safe decision-making, community outreach promoting healthy environments, parental engagement to strengthen family communication, and ongoing research to refine effective strategies against substance misuse.

Breaking the Stigma Against Men’s Health

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness month and Belize is doing its part to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Today, over one hundred and sixty men gathered for a mental health conference. At this session, men were able to speak to a panel of experts on topics such as cancer, depression and anxiety. While News Fives Britney Gordon was not permitted to enter the men’s only safe space, she spoke with some of the panelists to learn more about the importance of bringing awareness to this topic and open the door for open conversation. Here’s that story.

Britney, Gordon, Reporting
Did you know that in 2022, seventy-three percent of suicides recorded in the country were committed by men. Every day, fathers, brothers, uncles and friends are struggling with their mental health all around us and they are too scared to talk about it. Today, that stigma is being torn down at the Men’s Mental Health and Cancer Awareness Conference. Doctor Ramon Yacab an oncologist, spoke with us about the concerning trend of cancer diagnosis in Belize.

Dr. Ramon Yacab, Oncologist

“Four Belize projections are that there are approximately around four hundred new cancer cases every year. Those four hundred new cases are for this year alone. In the next five, ten years, we’re expecting for it to double on a yearly basis. Now, the most common cancers, yes, include breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and if we were to do take an example, in a pie, almost half of all cancer cases are in men. The sad part is that only three in every ten patients that are coming in for clinic. Men are just not coming in. We’re not seeing that reflected.”

Doctor Yacab revealed that a large portion of male cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced stages. He says that the stigma against being tested contributes to this trend.

Dr. Ramon Yacab

“Is there a stigma? That’s a good question. And I do believe it has to do with culture. Men we generally see them as that strong family leader. Most of the times they are willing to sacrifice themselves but ensure that the rest of the family can go on. The breadwinners, if you may. So it’s a cultural, it’s a societal norm. And I think it’s deeply embedded and that’s something that we want to change. Certainly, there are other constraints, financial constraints, knowing that you need to do different tests, but most of the time it’s going to be more the norms that we have in society.”

For many men, a cancer diagnosis leads to depression and anxiety, as they grapple with providing for their family and fighting the disease. Stephen Duncan, a cancer survivor of over ten years, told us about his journey with prostate cancer.

Stephen Duncan, Cancer Survivor

“As cancer tends to lead to other things. It starts with one thing and can lead to other things. And the journey, and I think for a lot of men, this is where I think we need to learn. I think women are much better at the journey part. Men want things to be over and done with. They want finality. They bring things to an end. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. And we need to learn how to take it one step at a time. I had to do that. I had to go through that. And not thinking that because you might have a bad day today that it’s the end. So the journey is very important. And I think this panel that I am sitting on Dealing with the mental aspect of it is very important as we fight and deal with cancer because it helps us to go beyond what the physical sign like you’re telling us and playing the mental game. There is a mental, psychological aspect and we have to be able to deal with it.”

The event was a men only safe space so that participants would not be ashamed to talk about their health issues. Kim Simplis-Barrow, president of the Belize Cancer Society, told us more about that decision.

Kim Simplis-Barrow, President, Belize Cancer Society

“We live in a much is more culture and a lot of times men don’t feel comfortable talking about mental health issues or even health issues. And so for us it was important to create a safe space for men to listen to the panelists to have interactions and have questions with our panelists. And so what we did is we did our official opening of the ceremony and after the official opening, we exited the females in the room exited the room and we left the male men in attendance and the panelists and the speakers to have their discussion openly and in confidence, if it’s I think it’s I think it’s important.”

According to Stephen Duncan, men tend to shy away from others about their feelings, making it difficult to form a support system.

Stephen Duncan

“I don’t think we talk to other men, possibly don’t want anybody to know. I think it’s a weakness. And I have developed sufficient confidence over the years, I think following my diagnosis and my treatment to be able to encourage other men, which I try to do whenever I am aware of a situation.”

The conference was organized by the Belize Cancer Society, the Ministry of Health, PAHO, and Belize Health Care Partners. Doctor Jorge Hidalgo, a critical care specialist, says the goal is to encourage men to get tested annually.

Jorge Hidalgo, Internist & Critical Care Specialist

“Moving forward for the culture of men’s health and beliefs. Miss Kim Simplice Barrow, as she’s the president of the Cancer Society. And she asked me, along with a few more in the group, to lead a men’s initiative for cancer awareness, for cancer advocacy, for cancer prevention. And that’s the most we want to achieve today. Is to have everybody to be aware of the importance of early recognition, early detection, and also at the end of the day, we are going to launch the initiative of Men’s for Cancer Initiative with the main purpose of that advocacy. Also early detection and trying to create awareness around the men’s community about cancer.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Mexico man dies from first human case of bird flu strain H5N2

A 59-year-old man in Mexico has died from a strain of bird flu known as H5N2, marking the first human case of this virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the man, who was hospitalized in Mexico City, succumbed to the virus on April 24 after experiencing symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort.

The WHO stated that the source of the man’s infection remains unclear, although H5N2 has been detected in poultry in Mexico. Despite this, the current risk to the general population is considered low. The UN agency emphasized that there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission in this case, and all individuals who had contact with the deceased have tested negative.

In March, an outbreak of H5N2 was reported in a family unit in Michoacan, but it was deemed no threat to distant commercial farms or human health. Following the man’s death, Mexican authorities confirmed the presence of the virus and reported the case to the WHO.

14 Newly Trained EMT Technicians Receive Certificates

Fourteen newly trained EMT technicians received certificates after successfully completing the three-month course today. The training was offered by the Belize Emergency Response Team, BERT, whose Executive Director, Susan Ferguson told News Five that the training covered topics that first-responders would find and must deal with in patients. The valedictorian, Chassen Rodriguez said that he is the head of security at B.S.I. in Orange Walk, so having this training comes in handy for on-the-job scenarios that might arise.

Chassen Rodriguez, Valedictorian, EMT Graduation

“I already work in security field where we deal with emergency incidents and so forth. So it’s just something that I really wanted to do something that I’ve seen that I’ve had a passion in, and just decided to take on a challenge. I live in Orange Walk, so it was just basically traveling every day. To be a part of the class putting in that extra hour to study, going home, standing on the bus. It’s just basic sacrifice that you need to do if you want to excel in something. Being a first responder, knowing how to deal with different situations, different patients, you have medical patients, trauma patients. You get to a scene, you don’t know what you’re gonna expect, you just gotta be ready. The training prepared us to deal with all of that. Different types of sicknesses diseases, and different types of injuries, how to approach the scene, just ensuring overall safety.”

Susan Ferguson, Executive Director, BERT

“In this course, they learn everything from the jargons needed in EMS field. They learn about lifting, you learn about blood, about…”

Marion Ali

“CPR.”

Susan Ferguson

“Yes, they learn about CPR, all the different measures to save lives. They learn how to do a correct IV, different medications. They learn about while they are not able to administer them, but they are knowledgeable in the field of what to give and what not to do. It is a very challenging field and one of the main purposes, so one of the main source, it has to come from family support. And so you found that while your passion may be towards EMS, the timing that it takes you from family, from enjoying your life conflicts with that. And you have to have a passion for EMS. You have to have that passion within you to continue, that road that you’re on.”

K.H.M.H. Talks Improvement Strategies with Cabinet

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is strategizing ways to further improve its services to the public. Tuesday at the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister John Briceño, K.H.M.H. C.E.O. Chandra Cansino made a presentation in which she provided an update on the status of the institution and discussed ways to enhance and improve service to Belizeans. The areas the hospital is looking to further develop include oncology, cardiology, and other specialized services. Cansino stressed that as both a regional hospital and the nation’s only public tertiary hospital, it is necessary that that standard of care be ever improving. In recent months, the K.H.M.H. has made multiple renovations to the facilities and received donations of medical supplies and equipment as a part of this mission.

A Polyclinic is Finally Opened on Placencia Peninsula

The Placencia Polyclinic is finally open for business, and it is a welcome change for residents of the peninsula who, for years, have had to travel elsewhere to receive emergency medical attention. The clinic was built through the efforts of the Belize Tourism Board and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The Government of Belize recognized the need to provide better healthcare services to residents of Stann Creek District. It also ensured that one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations is now equipped with the necessary facilities to encourage longer stays. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on hand for the opening ceremony has that story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

For many years, residents of Placencia have had to journey by boat or land to receive emergency medical care in Independence Village. That inconvenience is now a thing of the past, as the Placencia Polyclinic was finally inaugurated this morning. Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, told us about the culmination of this project.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Heath & Wellness

“This initiative started ever since we got elected. Minister Ferguson had reached out to Minister Mahler and quickly to the Ministry of Tourism and BTB support, we were able to get this facility going. You will understand, as well, that a lot of the medical equipment was also contributed to the foundation, the Heineman Foundation and we also got some of the contribution from the recent donation that we got from Mister and Misses Lord that was handed over at that ceremony at KHMH. So some of the beds and so forth was also placed here. So it’s a joint effort.”

Construction of the clinic was made possible through a partnership between the BTB and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler said that upgrades to various resources across Belize is an integral part of developing the tourism sector.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“If you really look into the infrastructure needed to support the tourism industry, health is one of them. Electricity is another, water, security, road infrastructure, all of those things. All of those things play an important role in making a premier destination available to people from all across the world and within Belize. And when we look at the growth rate happening On the Placencia peninsula and there was no polyclinic or hospital facility to the level that we think it should be. Then we partnered with a Norwegian from out of Harvester to build this facility here.”

Approximately three million dollars was invested in the clinic and there are plans for future expansion. According to Bernard, the clinic is still waiting for additional equipment to be delivered.

Kevin Bernard

“I can guarantee you that within no time this facility will have everything fully functional. As notice there’s an x ray room. We don’t have a radiologist here. We’re working on trying to get radiologists. That’s a big area where we need, where we’re seeing in terms of the health gaps, where we need more radiologists in the country. And so in finding people who are willing to come to the, to these areas to work is what we are faced with. But however, we are working very hard to do we are making sure that at least the major service, the main services that needs to be offered at the facility is be able to offer it. But as in terms of your question, in terms of making sure equipments, the equipments and medical equipments are available, we already identify what equipment’s are to be here. And those are the ones that we have earmarked to come this way.”

The clinic offers an array of services, including maternity and childcare, an asthma bay and a pharmacy. An ambulance was also donated to the clinic. In the event of an emergency, the clinic is also equipped with a generator and water reserves. Stann Creek West representative, Rodwell Ferguson, said that this clinic was long overdue.

Rodwell Ferguson, Area Representative, Stann Creek West

“This is a milestone for the entire Pacific Peninsula because it’s a major tourist destination. And then even likewise the locals, it have maybe about maybe three thousand to five thousand people in the peninsula all together and when there is a major health issue, the closest place is Independence. If you don’t have a boat, you can’t go across the lagoon. You have to drive all the way around to reach Independence or Dangriga. So this by itself might save lives. I’m hopeful that within the next six months, staff this building to be able to satisfy the need of the people of the percentage of peninsula, including person that’s in Placencia, Seine Bight, and Riversdale.”

In order to match the service provided by the Independence Polyclinic, this facility plans to offer twenty-four seven medical care. Minister Bernard told us that housing is currently in the works for doctors and nurses.

Kevin Bernard

“We know that one of the major challenge that have always been in terms of the doctors having a doctor’s station in, in Placencia Peninsula. Was always a critical issue. And so we are working on that as well to see if we could get the previous facility renovated so we could house the doctors there, that way doctors can be here available twenty-four seven. Of course, this will be a twenty-four hour facility and provide continuous service, emergency service, routine checkups other specialized care when the doctor come in.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.