Tests reveal child did not die of dengue

On Monday, we reported that a suspected case of dengue hemorrhagic fever might have caused the death of ten-year-old Darwin Martinez of Hattieville Village. Today, however, Director of Health Services, Dr. Errol Vanzie says test results reveal that the child did not in fact have the deadly fever.

Dr. Errol Vanzie, Director of Health Services
“At the time we didn?t have any detailed information as to the clinical history, so we initiated an epidemiological investigation, and by this we mean we gather all available information with regards to the environment where the child lived, the history of previous infections with dengue or similar conditions; we also collect information on the clinical progression of the disease and any laboratory tests that was conducted at the time. We also took a blood sample before the child died and that sample was sent to Mexico for the identification of dengue, if the child had dengue. We also did a post-mortem, and when we looked at all this information put together, there is no indication or suggestion that the child had dengue. None of the findings are compatible with classical dengue nor dengue hemorrhagic fever.”

Jacqueline Woods
“Were you able to determine what was the cause of death?”

Dr. Errol Vanzie
“Not at this stage. We know from the post-mortem results and from the progression of the clinical picture that the child most likely died from septicaemia, which is generalised infection, probably viral in origin.”

Vanzie says there are many infectious disease that are endemic and from time to time, depending on the conditions in which people live, they might become exposed and develop these infections. Children are especially vulnerable if their nutritional needs are not adequately met. Vanzie says it is the Department of Epidemiology that monitors the incidence of any disease and as soon as a suspected case is reported, they investigate. Work is also carried out by public health inspectors.