Dear Editor,
It was Bernard Shaw, the Irish playwright, who once said—The English language is the easiest language to speak badly. And while I concur with the great playwright, I would be tempted to place an addendum to his quote—The English language is also the easiest language to read badly.
For this was so much evident in a Village Voice News article titled, “Dengue vaccines are available – ministry did not mention.” Where, the article once read with minimal level of comprehension,
unambiguously argued, Dengue Vaccines are available, should PPP choose to procure same. Nevertheless, PPP who perennially read the language badly, implied that Village Voice News was peddling disinformation, since the Dengue vaccine isn’t a part of their armoury in fighting this outbreak. However, the fact that PPP could make such a proclamation, evidence that they are completely clueless as it pertains to the management of this seasonal increased in dengue infections.
The reality is, we are living in a DEADLY outbreak of Dengue. Dengue which is generally benign, but potentially catastrophic, if poorly managed. And poorly managed it is. For we have registered 11 deaths, with an astronomical 0.32% death rate. In fact, guided by prior international outbreaks, the
WHO has set a predicted death rate of 0.05%, for endemic regions. Which means, with a death rate of 0.32, PPP death rate is 6.4 times that projected by WHO. Indeed, this is a strong indication that preventive vaccines are needed.
Moreover, when comparing the death rates of other South America nations, evidence that PPP is making this Dengue outbreak, a national catastrophe. For Dengue death rate in Honduras is 0.034%, and Nicaragua 0.002%, with other South American countries similarly markedly lower than ours. Therefore, when translated to layman’s language, it means persons are 160 times more likely to die of dengue, if treated in Guyana, compared to Nicaragua. Indeed, another strong indication that preventive vaccines are needed.
Therefore, with our astronomical death and infection rates, along with the fact that Dengue is endemic to our 83,000sq miles, evidence that we need vaccines. So what is there for PPP to think about? The evidence is clear. The science is unambiguously clear. Vaccines are available and we need them Now!
Then PPP went on to argue that Dengvaxa and Qdenga are licensed in only a small number of countries. Furthermore, they argued that WHO, the US CDC and the EU regulatory authorities haven’t recommended these vaccines for universal administration.
The fact is, the aforementioned are all disingenuous disinformation, since Dengvaxia is approved by the WHO, US FDA and the European Union. In fact, the US CDC isn’t involved in drug approval, since that is the responsibility of the FDA. Furthermore, Qdenga is approved by the European Union and several other countries, even as it’s working on FDA approval.
Therefore, PPP has no reason not to be procuring these vaccines, other than the fact they are cluelessly incompetent. Cluelessly incompetent that has resulted in 11 unnecessary deaths, with many more likely.
Yours truly,
Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) FRCP(Edin) FRCP
Consultant Acute Medicine
Nottingham University Hospital
