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Jim McFadzean has been looking for answers:....

This was the question we posed last month to supervising public health inspector Steven Rivers concerning the possible outbreak of Dengue in the making for 2010.

Steven Rivers
"For 2010 we have over 200 cases."

Jim McFadzean
"And how does that compare to last year this same time."

Steven Rivers
"Its way off because last year this time we didn't have as much, not even 50 we had that time last year."

Those figures by Rivers were confirm by Dr. Ethan Goff the man charged with keeping such statistics for the ministry of health. However 24 hours after airing that interview with Rivers the ministry sent out a press release down playing those figures saying the opposite that in essence there was no need for alarm since there overall record for 2010 reflected a decline in numbers of Dengue cases compared to 2009.

Here is another important acknowledgement that came from that interview with Rivers concerning the possible reason or reasons for such conflicting records at the ministry of health.

Steven Rivers
"Private practitioners and private labs or whoever they have an obligation to report these things to the ministry. But right now we are doing it going out there and picking up all the cases daily so as to be on top of things. The first 3 months we weren't doing that, we were expecting the results to come to us, but it didn't so that's why we had an outbreak the first 3 months."

And so while the ministry of health has made precise numbers a moving target there are growing concerns by the public of an impending or serious Dengue outbreak.

7 News can list at least a dozen Dengue cases we know of which include a prominent attorney and a number of corporate executives, but for now we would like to introduce today you today to just two; one of which hits closer to home. Paul Munnings is our key video editor here at 7 News.

Paul Munnings, Seven News Video Editor
"My experience with Dengue is not one that was like other diseases that was easily detected. I had several other symptoms that led me to the hospital like for example I had nausea, headaches, and weakness and for couple of days I was losing my appetite and stuff like that. I don't know how to describe death but it's like you are unable to taste, you are unable to move freely. Unexplained headaches and its started getting worse. So Dengue is something very dangerous. My time that I spent in the hospital someone actually died beside me. So I want Belize to know that it is dangerous and the awareness is not being promoted as it should."

Another prominent citizen this one a primary figure in the healthcare system, Assistant Nursing Director at the KHMH Sharlene Young Banks is critically ill with Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and her aunt former matron of the Belize City hospital and national softball gold medal fame Gretel Lashley stop by 7 News along with a nursing colleague to appeal for blood donations on behalf of Banks.

Gretel Lashley
"This is our first experience. Our mosquitoes have been doing a number on the Belizean public."

Isabel Bennett, Registered Nurse, KHMH
"In the case of my colleague and friend Sharlene is experiencing Hemorrhagic Dengue and the need for her to get the O negative blood is very important for her stability we know that patients don't normally die from Hemorrhagic Dengue once they are treated within the first 36-48 hours. Right now she is in the first phase of Hemorrhagic Dengue she is still maintaining febrile temperatures and loss of appetite, weak etc. That why it is very crucial that we stabilize her now. Which is what the team at KHMH have been doing. Nurse Banks will definitely need 16 units of blood. We are collecting so far, they are coming in slowly, but we are sure that we will continue to get the support that she need. She is a nurse that is love, she is very caring, she has touch so many people lives and we know that the public and friends, family will continue to give her the support. For those donors who would like to donate, if you are coming from Cayo or Corozal or where ever you are coming from contact numbers that you can call are 622-6963 or 605-5848. We will pay transportation, we will provide food for you for that day and we will make sure that you get back home safe once you have donated."

Once again there are the principal symptoms of Dengue; high fever, severe headache, pain behind eyes, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash and mild bleeding. For example nose or gum bleeding and easy bruising. In the case of the more serious Hemorrhagic Dengue fever, the fever last from 2-7 days with general signs and symptoms consistent with Dengue fever. When the fever declines symptoms include; persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain and difficulty breathing.

Reporting for 7 News I am Jim McFadzean.

And with all the timeliness of a stable-keeper that's closing the gate just as the horses have bolted, The Ministry of Health today invited the media to attend a presentation on the present Denque situation and the immediate and short term response...