St. Maarten Private Eye

Tuberculosis outbreak blamed on stripper, Dozens treated in St. Maarten after dancer diagnosed with disease.
www.msnbc
www.www.usatoday
www.suntimes
www.anguilla.com
www.turkishdailynews
www.worldtravelguide

Philipsburg:---Commissioner of Health Care of Health Care Maria Buncamper said that despite there is some level of communication with the Health Department on the French side did not get any information where a number of cases of Dengue was reported on the French side after the passing of hurricane Dean were reported in the French media that because Hurricane Dean destroyed Guadeloupe and there was lots of excess water on that island had a number of cases of Dengue. When the local media houses on St. Martin tried to obtain that information from DSDS that request was denied SMN News interviewed at least five people who went to Guadeloupe and picked up the dengue.
The commissioner further explained that there is valid information that states that dengue is on several islands including Jamaica that was also severely affected by Dean. She said that migrants entering St. Maarten do have to provide a valid health certificate before entering the island which is supposed to be authenticated, when the question was posed to the commissioner if she is aware that documents such as these is sold on some Caribbean islands even though they have the authenticated stamp, the commissioner said that she has heard of this and government she said has decided to send these migrants looking for work on St. Maarten to local doctor to verify their true medical condition. SMN News also reminded the commissioner of the Tuberculosis patient who came into the island that had her medical certificate prior to entering the island and after the woman whose job scope allowed her to be in contact with at least 1,500 persons was diagnosed with Tubercolisis. The commissioner said she did not forget the threat and the amount of monies that had to be spent on that particular exotic dancer who was also working as a bartender. She said the woman was sent back to her country, the Dominican Republic but the process of testing people and the expenditures on this is still on going. However, the island people is no longer at risk.