Jamaica’s Ministry of Well being and Wellness has confirmed that one particular person on the island has died from dengue, whereas three different individuals are suspected to have died because of the virus.
The 4 instances have been amongst a complete of six deaths that have been underneath investigation by the ministry.
The variety of infections has additionally almost doubled for the reason that ministry confirmed an outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus final weekend.
Jamaica now has 1,060 presumed, suspected, and confirmed dengue instances, up from some 500 instances final reported. Of that quantity, 132 are confirmed dengue instances with the Kind 2 pressure dominating the infections.
All parishes have recorded dengue instances, with Kingston & St Andrew, St Thomas, St. Catherine, Portland, and St James having probably the most confirmed infections.
The well being ministry says the 5 –14 age cohort continues to be probably the most affected, adopted by individuals 25-59 years previous.
Extra dengue-related information
Beginning October 2, youngsters underneath the age of 18 years won’t be charged a payment for well being care companies on the College Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston.
The Minister of Well being, Dr. Chris Tufton stated yesterday that the measure is in response to the dengue outbreak, which has brought about an inflow of instances on the Bustamante Hospital for Youngsters in Kingston.
“Now we have spoken to the UHWI to permit individuals affected who can’t be accommodated, significantly youngsters on the Bustamente hospital, to take that overflow,” the minister stated.
Dr. Tufton has additionally urged college directors to be on excessive alert and to observe correct procedures when coping with affected youngsters.
“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 stated.
Signs of dengue embrace fever, headache, muscle and joint ache, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small variety of instances, the possibly lethal dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) could develop, leading to inner bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and excessive fever.
About one in 4 individuals contaminated with the an infection will get sick.
Dr. Tufton stated that native blood banks are additionally on excessive alert, ought to the outbreak intensify and instances progress to extreme dengue.
