Dengue Fever: Airport employee infected

An employee of SSR International Airport has been infected by the dengue fever. He came back to Mauritius on September 15 after a trip to India. On September 19, the employee, who was at his workplace, started to experience the first symptoms of dengue fever namely fever and muscle pain. After examining the employee, the airport doctor referred him to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Rose-Belle, where he was positively tested for dengue fever. This was revealed by a source from the Ministry of Health. 

The airport employee, residing at Lallmatie, was placed in isolation in the same hospital for treatment. To prevent a possible spread of dengue outbreak, fumigation exercises were carried out at the airport including at Lallmatie and around the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital.

Chikungunya and dengue warning for people travelling to India

The Ministry of Health has issued a warning for passengers travelling to India, given the number of chikungunya and dengue fever cases registered in that country. Travellers have to follow the following precautionary measures in order to avoid being infected by those diseases transmitted by mosquitoes:

1) Avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes by: wearing clothes which cover most of the body, such as long-sleeved shirts and trousers; applying mosquito repellent creams on exposed body parts; and using bed nets and mosquito repellents such as coils or diffusers.

2) Seek medical help in case anyone experiences fever and muscle pain. Once back from India, any traveller should report to the Ministry of Health any case of recent fever or muscle pain.

For more information on dengue fever and chikungunya, visit the Ministry of Health’s website health.govmu.org.