Youngsters between the ages of 5 and 14 are disproportionally affected by Jamaica’s latest dengue outbreak, based on authorities.
The island’s Ministry of Well being and Wellness confirmed an outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus on Saturday, with over 500 suspected and confirmed circumstances.
At a Put up Cupboard Press Briefing on Wednesday, the island’s Director of Well being Providers Planning and Integration, Dr. Naydene Williams, gave an replace on the standing of the outbreak.
“As of Friday, September 22, the nation recorded 565 suspected, presumed and confirmed circumstances of dengue. Of that quantity, 78 circumstances have been confirmed, with the vast majority of circumstances in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas,” Dr. Williams mentioned. No dengue-related deaths have been confirmed, nonetheless, six deaths are being investigated.
Dengue Kind 2 has been recognized because the dominant pressure of the virus within the nation.
A lot of the confirmed dengue circumstances have been kids, Dr. Williams confirmed. She mentioned the ministry has applied its enhanced vector management program, with measures together with neighborhood fogging, to regulate the unfold of the virus.
Youngsters to get free well being care at UHWI
Beginning October 2, kids beneath the age of 18 years is not going to be charged a charge for well being care companies on the College Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston.
The Minister of Well being, Dr. Chris Tufton mentioned the measure is in response to the dengue outbreak, which has triggered an inflow of circumstances on the Bustamante Hospital for Youngsters in Kingston.
“We now have spoken to the UHWI to permit individuals affected who can’t be accommodated, notably kids on the Bustamente hospital, to take that overflow,” the minister mentioned.
Extra on dengue in Jamaica
Dr. Tufton has additionally urged faculty directors to be on excessive alert and to observe correct procedures when coping with affected kids.
“There’s a dialog going down round these establishments the place mosquito breeding websites are current and the way we eradicate these working with the parish well being groups,” he mentioned.
Signs of dengue embody fever, headache, muscle and joint ache, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small variety of circumstances, the possibly lethal dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) might develop, leading to inside bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and excessive fever.
About one in 4 individuals contaminated with the an infection will get sick.
Dr. Tufton mentioned that native blood banks are additionally on excessive alert, ought to the outbreak intensify and circumstances progress to extreme dengue.
