Well being officers in Jamaica say dengue continues to be a public well being concern within the nation, as circumstances and deaths proceed to rise.
As of January 11, 2024, the nation had on file 1,534 confirmed Dengue circumstances. Whereas Dengue sorts 2, 3, and 4 have been recognized among the many inhabitants, Dengue kind 2 stays the dominant pressure.
On the similar time, there have been a complete of 19 Dengue-related deaths – 13 labeled as suspected and 6 as confirmed.
All parishes proceed to look at circumstances of the virus, with Kingston & St. Andrew reporting the best variety of circumstances (1,499) for 2023/24. Nevertheless, St. Thomas continues to be the parish with the best price of 696.1 circumstances per 100,000 inhabitants, adopted by Trelawny (551.7) and Hanover with 497.5 per 100,000.
The best variety of circumstances continues to be noticed within the 5–14-year-old cohort at a price of 885.3 circumstances per 100,000 inhabitants.
CMO urges warning
The island’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, has urged Jamaicans to take each precaution to safeguard themselves.
“Individuals are requested to play their half in making certain that the Dengue circumstances are minimized by monitoring water storage containers for mosquito breeding; preserving environment freed from particles; destroying or treating potential mosquito breeding websites; carrying protecting clothes and utilizing a DEET-containing mosquito repellant,” cautioned the CMO.
As a reminder, the CMO famous that “Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that’s often a light sickness by which an individual could get a fever, headache, joint, and muscle pains. Relaxation and satisfactory hydration are often sufficient to see one by means of the interval of sickness. The really helpful remedy for the fever is acetaminophen/paracetamol.”
Members of the general public are implored to not use aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, or any of the drugs/ache relievers often called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs). These medicine, when used to deal with the fever in Dengue, have been identified to extend the severity of the illness.
