Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BELMOPAN298
2009-07-31 21:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

DENGUE OUTBREAK

Tags:  PGOV PREL SOCI BH 
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VZCZCXRO1707
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHBE #0298 2122150
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 312150Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1962
INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0252
RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000298 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI BH
SUBJECT: DENGUE OUTBREAK

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000298

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI BH
SUBJECT: DENGUE OUTBREAK


1. Summary: Belize is experiencing an upsurge in cases of dengue
fever with about 200 clinically-diagnosed cases in the last two
months. The health authorities in the adjacent Mexican state of
Quintana Roo (QR) are providing the GOB assistance to control the
outbreak. End Summary.


2. The Belize Minister of Health (MOH) Pablo Marin met on July 27
with the Mexican Ambassador to Belize Luis Manuel Lopez Moreno and
QR Secretary of Health Juan Carlos Azueta Cardenas to discuss
details of the QR Health Secretariat's offer of assistance to the
GOB to control the spread of dengue fever in Belize.


3. On July 29 at a ceremony on the Mexico-Belize border Azueta
Cardenas handed over to the GOB equipment to fight the spread of the
disease. The agreement will be in effect for three weeks and will
cover provision of assistance in the areas of epidemiological
survey, entomological activities, ultra low volume (ULV) spraying,
and laboratory support.


4. Seventeen Mexican medical and vector control personnel and a
fleet of ULV machines crossed over from QR and have begun their
activities in Cayo District (which includes Belmopan). They will
then continue their work in Belize, Corozal, and Orange Walk
Districts. The team is led by QR's senior epidemiologist Dr. Julio
Cesar Gonzales Aguilar.


5. Emphasis will be placed on an entomological survey that will
provide the MOH with necessary information on areas of infestation
of the vector - the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes
which transmits dengue to humans. The MOH will then more
efficiently utilize insecticides for the spraying of the vector
population in order to reduce the transmission of the disease.


6. The MOH reports an upsurge in suspected dengue cases in Belize
since May 24, with the largest spike occurring since July 5. There
have been 240 clinically-diagnosed cases reported to date this year,
with 198 of these cases since May 24. All suspected cased during
the period were reported from two districts, Cayo (including
Belmopan) with 169 cases and Belize (including Belize City) with 29
cases. The MOH reports that serology testing has been done on 186
persons at Belize City's central medical laboratory since May 24.


7. Post sent a warden message concerning the outbreak to the
American community and continues to monitor the situation.

DIFFILY