23 Jul 2015

CDC experts help American Samoa cope with dengue

5:46 pm on 23 July 2015

The team from the United States Centers for Disease Control is calling for American Samoans to take precautions to contain the spread of dengue.

Epidemiologist Tyler Sharp says people should avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes and if they do get sick they should seek immediate treatment.

Four people has died in the latest outbreak which has seen at least 50 others needing hospital treatment.

Dr Sharp has praised the concerted community effort in response to the dengue outbreak but says there is a continued risk and people need to be mindful of that.

"So individuals should be taking all the approaches that they can to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes and if they do get sick another very important message is that if you have symptoms consistent with dengue, if you have fever and body pain and headache etc, then you should be seeking care early in the course of the disease."

Epidemiologist Tyler Sharp.