Among many topics which were covered in an extensive hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole yesterday is what the Department of Health is doing to contain the spread of dengue, which has claimed five lives in Samoa.
Director Motusa Tuileama Nua stated that DOH has been pulling double-duty with efforts to control and contain the spread of dengue and Zika for the past two years.
He thanked LBJ executives and administration for their active part in diagnosis and treatment.
Motusa said outreach and public awareness are a key part of the prevention efforts and DOH is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.
Motusa noted that the prevention and containment efforts are working because no life has been lost thus far to either dengue or Zika in American Samoa.
The director informed senators that DOH has worked closely with the Office of Samoan Affairs, with pulenu’u and villages, encouraging residents to clean up their surroundings.
He said efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding areas have proven effective in keeping dengue at bay.
Motusa put at bay senators concerns about possible deaths from mosquito borne diseases as has been happening in Samoa, stressing that there have been no deaths from dengue and Zika in the territory.
But DOH is reaching out to Samoa to see if we can help in any way.
Stats on dengue fever which were presented at yesterday’s hearing:
For 2017 to date, 1,940 people were diagnosed as having dengue symptoms; and from that number there were 489 confirmed cases.
For the same period, 2,035 people were diagnosed as having the Zika virus; 101 of those cases were confirmed.
When asked about babies whose mothers contracted the zika virus, Health Director Motusa said there were 200 births from women diagnosed as having the Zika virus. He said these babies have been recorded in the Public Health registry and will be monitored wherever the children travel,
An effect of the Zika virus is microcephaly where the baby’s head does not fully develop.
Medical Director of LBJ Hospital Dr, Iotamo Salepaga told the hearing that the current outbreak of dengue has lasted 2 years which is longer than any previous outbreak, He said usually dengue will be around for 6 months to a year but the current one has lasted two years.
He said whiel preventive efforts are working, dengue is here to stay, and that’s because the osquitoe which carries the disease is still here.
Dr. Saleapaga said while there is no cure for dengue, the good news is that there is a protocol for treating the disease and we should be thankful that no one has died from dengue in the current outbreak.
The Medical Director said until Jesus’ second coming, dengue will not go away,
Play Audiodengue-saleapaga
