Dengue Outbreak Declared in TCI  

#TurksandCaicos, November 14, 2023 – The Ministry of Health and Human Services has been monitoring the dengue situation in the region of the Americas closely due to multiple countries declaring dengue outbreaks including countries in the Caribbean. The TCI received confirmation of its first dengue case on 17th October 2023. Since this time, through raised awareness with the general public and health care providers, testing has increased with 13 confirmed cases of dengue being identified to date with a further 74 suspected cases. Confirmed cases are those that have undergone PCR testing at CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency), whereas suspected cases have been identified through rapid tests. These recent increases signal the start of a dengue outbreak in the TCI. The confirmed cases are distributed across the islands as follows:

Providenciales: 12 confirmed

Grand Turk: 1 confirmed

There are four dengue virus types. Two types of dengue virus have since been identified in the TCI- type two and type three (DENV-2 and DENV-3). 8 of the confirmed cases are type three, which can result in a more severe form of the disease while type two has been identified in one confirmed case. The other cases did not meet the criteria for typing.

The Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Shaun D. Malcolm stated, “In response to the dengue cases, the Ministry of Health and Human Services through the Vector Control Unit of the Environmental Health Department, has ramped up vector control activities throughout the islands including treatment of swamps, large bodies of standing water, premises inspections and fogging.  He also noted that through collaboration with the Deputy Governor, approval for additional Vector Control Officers has been granted and that the onboarding of these individuals has been prioritised”.

Educational materials are being published to educate the general public on activities that can be undertaken by individuals to reduce mosquito breeding sites on their properties and in their communities as well as reduce the risk of mosquito bites.

Dengue is a viral illness that spreads to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. These mosquitoes also spread zika, chikungunya, and other viruses. The aedes aegypti mosquito is present in the Turks and Caicos Islands and is capable of spreading these diseases. The Aedes aegypti prefers to lay their eggs in artificial containers that contain water (drums, barrels and tires, mainly) in and around homes, schools and workplaces. It is essential that the general public remains vigilant for this disease as well as play their role in destroying potential mosquito breeding sites within homes, yards and communities.

• 1 in 4: About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick.
• For people who get sick with dengue, symptoms can be mild or severe.
• Severe dengue can be life-threatening within a few hours and often requires care at a hospital.