What is Being Done About Dengue Fever?

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

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The PS wants to know what plan is drawn up by the Regional Government to face a possible outbreak of dengue. This is in light of the dengue virus being detected in an ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito in a monitoring trap located in Funchal.

Marta Freitas, through a statement, reiterated her concern over the matter, explaining that PS officials had already warned of the situation, but their advice had gone unheated. In October 2024, after receiving reports of the increase in dengue vector mosquitoes. The PS parliamentary group requested clarification from the Secretary of Health on what public health measures were being taken and implemented, recalling the example of Cape Verde, which had declared a contingency situation.

However, in the response received in November, the Secretariat under Pedro Ramos implied that the situation was under control, “limiting itself to the monitoring of traps, and the mosquitoes’ behavioral patterns, linking the increase in numbers to climate change.”

Marta Freitas demanded answers, as experts warn of the urgency of eliminating the virus and the vector before the heat arrives, with Madeira risking new outbreaks of the disease.

“What plan does the Regional Government have to deal with the possible emergence of dengue outbreaks? Or will you continue to say that everything is under control?” Warning that there are public health experts who have drawn attention to the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides.

Among the measures, Marta Freitas wants to know if the purchase of vaccines is planned, since there are people who already contracted the disease in 2013, who are now at risk of developing it in a more serious form, in case of reinfection. “Is the Government considering vaccinating the most susceptible population?” Urged Marta Freitas, stressing that this information should be included in a possible contingency plan.

The deputy hopes that the Regional Government assumes responsibility and introduces vaccination and other medicines to help combat the fever.

So far there has been no response to her questions.

Samantha Gannon

info at madeira-weekly.com

Photo: JM