The Flying Doctors of America, a volunteer organization that sends medical practitioners to countries with special needs will be conducting surgeries in American Samoa for the first time.

The team consisting of 12 includes physicians, surgeons and dentists will arrive in the territory for a ten day mission.

The President of the organization, Dr Allan Gathercoal says the team will assess the needs of more than 20 people and will conduct the necessary facial surgeries at LBJ Hospital in Pago Pago. An obstetrician/gynaecologist and a dentist will also attend to patients in the remote islands of the Manu’as.

The LBJ Medical Center has tabulated 282 cases of dengue fever in American Samoa over the first half of the year, up from 249 cases in the first six months of 2009. There were 436 cases of the deadly mosquito-borne disease in the U. S. territory compared with 667 cases in 2008.

The chief medical officer at the medical center, Dr. Aloiamoa Anesi says the hospital is not seeing as many cases requiring hospitalization and acute treatment in the last few months.

Anesi considers that most people who suspect dengue fever are starting treatment at home with Tylenol, rest and lots of fluids. He says the treatment can avert complications in most cases and prevent hospital visits.