Guyana to begin dengue virus serotyping as cases increase – Dr Ramsammy

The Health Ministry will soon be able to serotype cases of the dengue virus in Guyana, according to health advisor Dr. Leslie Ramsammy during the opening of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulation Voluntary External Evaluation on Monday.
According to Ramsammy by Friday the ministry should be able to serotype these cases. “I am encouraged by the fact that by Friday of this week…we will be able to begin serotyping the dengue cases in Guyana.”
He noted that in all ten regions across the country Guyana, there is rapid testing for dengue now available, adding that this improved the dengue intelligence of the country.

Ramsammy also highlighted that from 2000 to date, there has been a significant rise in dengue cases which represents more than 1000 per cent. “The dengue has been increasing, not just the last few months, this region has seen a phenomenal rise in dengue in recent times.”
“Globally, dengue from [the year] 2000 to now has increased by more than 1000 per cent. From around 500,000 recorded cases annually to now more than five million, and even with the limited reports that we are gathering in 2023 we are going to exceed that 5.2 million easily this year,” Ramsammy said.
The former Health Minister anticipated that the Americas will have the highest number of recorded dengue cases this year, as he noted that cases have almost surpassed those that were recorded in 2022.
“The Americas will have the highest ever recorded dengue cases in 2023. It is already almost surpassed 2022, but none of us in this room, and none of us in any ministry of health in this region, could say for certain that we know the exact extent of the dengue problem that we are confronting today,” Ramsammy said.
According to recent statistics, the ministry has recorded a total of 317 cases of dengue fever in Guyana in just last week as many countries in South America have recorded a substantial increase in cases.
Based on local records, the country records an average of about 80 cases weekly, with a majority of those cases being recorded in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
It was reported in other sections of the media that last week the WHO warned that cases of dengue fever could reach record highs this year, partly due to global warming which is providing more conducive conditions for dengue-spreading mosquitoes, the Aedes species.
The WHO says reported cases of the disease, which causes fever and muscle pain, represent just a fraction of the total number of global infections since most cases are asymptomatic. It is fatal in less than 1% of people.
Because of these concerns, the Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony has advised people to avoid stagnant water and destroy breeding places for mosquitos. He assured citizens that the relevant authorities have the capacity to deal with any hospitalised patients.
He added that daily surveillance has been increased and some 15,000 test kits were delivered across all the regions, and new guidelines on treatment and presentation have been updated.