By Belize Live News Staff: Health officials are intensifying efforts to control a dengue outbreak in the Belize District, while also investigating whether the illness played a role in the recent death of a female teacher.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, confirmed that the district has seen a surge in dengue cases in recent weeks. He said the ministry quickly sourced malathion for spraying and hired around eight temporary workers to assist the vector control team. These teams have been conducting house-to-house visits to raise awareness and encourage residents to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, such as water-filled containers, old tires, and other stagnant water sources.
Bernard noted that the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) has recorded an increase in hospitalizations linked to dengue. He acknowledged public concerns regarding the death of the teacher, saying that initial tests confirmed she was positive for dengue. However, other possible causes of death are also being examined. The KHMH team has ordered an autopsy, which is expected to be completed this week, to determine whether the teacher’s death was directly caused by dengue complications or other underlying conditions.
The ministry continues spraying operations across the Belize District in an effort to contain the outbreak and prevent further serious cases.
