Dengue Cases Expected to Rise as Rainy Season Sets In

With rain now a daily fixture, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is warning that conditions are ripe for dengue to spread. The ministry is asking Belizeans to check their yards before the mosquito problem becomes a hospital problem.

The virus spreads through the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in something as small as a bottle cap of standing water. Symptoms can range from fever and severe headaches to joint pain and rash and, in the worst cases, bleeding or breathing difficulty. Anyone exhibiting these symptoms is advised to seek immediate medical attention rather than waiting.

The ministry is also asking residents to walk their properties looking for anything holding water, old tyres, cans, clogged drains, or overgrown yards and either empty it out or get rid of it entirely. Basic steps like repellent, long sleeves during peak mosquito hours, and screened windows and doors round out the advice.

Health officials say they’re continuing to work with local authorities and community partners on surveillance and mosquito control efforts nationwide, but the immediate ask is simpler: check your yard.