HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville.
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said officials are investigating the death of a 17-year-old Central Eleuthera High School student, denying the mother’s claim that the boy tested positive for Dengue fever.
Chykino “Kenny” Thompson died on Sunday.
His mother, Laquell Thompson, claimed her son was diagnosed with Dengue fever and was prescribed Motrin.
Dr Darville said according to his understanding, a doctor saw Chykino, but never tested the boy for Dengue.
“They thought he had an upper respiratory tract infection or viral phenomena,” he said.
He said the boy was sent home.
“To my understanding, the child was not given Motrin. The child was given acetaminophen,” he said. “Usually, with these viral illnesses, you stay away from aspirin or any ibuprofen. There is no shortage of medicines as it relates to upper respiratory tract infections.”
Dr Darville said there is only one confirmed positive case of Dengue in Eleuthera: a 30-year-old woman from Rock Sound.
Dr Darville said officials will perform toxicology tests on Chykino.
Up to press time yesterday, there were 168 confirmed dengue cases, most of them in New Providence.
Dr Darville noted that Grand Bahama has 41 cases. The Department of Environmental Health sent a large team to assist the island with surveillance.
Health officials confirmed the country’s first dengue fever death in September: a 9-year-old boy.
Chykino’s father, Obie Butler, said yesterday his son’s mother never told him the child tested positive for dengue.
He said residents in the community were surprised to hear about her claim.
He said he only learned his son had been sick on Friday.
Comments
ExposedU2C 7 months, 2 weeks ago
And Dr. Darville went on to say that the immense and widespread suffering of the Bahamian people is not at all due to the waste, fraud and corruption of the Davis-led PLP government.
Just wait on all of the dengue and other diseases our troops are going to bring back to us when they return from their foolish tour of duty in gang ridden and disease infested Haiti.
TalRussell 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Covid was dominating headlines, but Tuberculosis (TB) is being allowed a quieter comeback! --- The Colony's health minister, gone mute, --- Not seen since, way back In 1492, when Christopher Columbus made landfall onto one of the colony's Out Islands, ---- Initiating a outbreak of the dreaded new disease – Tuberculosis (TB) --- Yes?
jackbnimble 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Living on a Family Island without a proper health care system is what probably killed this young man. How long has this Governnrnt been promising to upgrade the health care facilities and systems on the Islsnds and yet we continue to hear story after story about people dying because they didn't have access to a doctor or the air ambulance couldn't get there in time, etc.
Enough with the excuses. We find money to travel to promote climate change and everything else while the people suffer.
And it's not just on the Famiy Islands either. My mind goes to the Kenise Darville story and others. Dr. Darville always seemd to be in defend-and-cover mode while missing the bigger picture that the public health care system in the Bahamas is second rate. The public health care system in The Bahamas simply sucks.
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