Jamaica Dengue 2018/2019

[Ronan Kelly]

Now health ministry admits one dengue-related death
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 1 comment



The Ministry of Health is now reporting that there has been one presumed dengue-related death so far this year.

The information runs counter to Sunday's news release by the ministry stating that there were no confirmed reports of dengue-related deaths on the island.

Sunday's news release was issued in response to the lead story in the Jamaica Observer that day reporting the concerns of a Hanover resident that two deaths in that parish, between December 2017 and April 2018, were caused by dengue fever.

The Hanover resident, Keisha Rhodes, said that autopsy reports indicated that the two individuals close to her had died of dengue fever.

In relation to Rhodes' concerns the health ministry had sent responses to the Observer saying that between May 2017 and April 2018 there were 227 suspected cases, 13 confirmed cases, and only one confirmed death relating to dengue fever.
...

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/now-health-ministry-admits-one-dengue-related-death_135648?profile=1373

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...6?profile=1373


Six suspected dengue-related deaths so far
BY KIMONE FRANCIS
Observer staff reporter
Thursday, December 13, 2018

SIX people are suspected to have died so far this year as a result of the mosquito-borne dengue virus, the Ministry of Health has disclosed.

At the same time, there have been 570 suspected cases of the virus that causes dengue fever, with nine confirmed cases.

The figures were disclosed yesterday at a health ministry press briefing, at which National Epidemiologist Dr Karen Webster Kerr explained that the figures are below those which constitute an ?outbreak?...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/jam...engue-outbreak

Jamaica Government Denies Dengue Outbreak
Caribbean360December 14, 2018

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday December 14, 2018 ? Although the number of dengue cases so far this year has more than tripled that last year, the government is insisting there is no dengue outbreak in the country.

National Epidemiologist Dr Karen Webster Kerr said there have been 570 suspected cases of dengue thus far, compared to 177 cases for 2017.

?Based on the information we have now, we are having a more active season. However, it is not at outbreak level at this time, but we continue to monitor the levels of dengue,? she said.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie insisted that while there has been an increase in the number of dengue and influenza cases, there is no need for alarm, noting that the majority of cases are mild...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...fever-outbreak


Dengue fever outbreak
Published:Thursday | January 3, 2019 | 4:10 PM
Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has declared that the island is now experiencing an outbreak of dengue fever.

Tufton made the disclosure at an emergency press conference that is currently under way at his offices in New Kingston.

He revealed that 123 cases were recorded in December 2018.

The figure includes suspected, presumed and confirmed cases.

He said that the number surpasses the outbreak threshold, which is 96...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/l...h-alert-dengue


Child's death triggers high alert to dengue
Published:Saturday | January 12, 2019 | 12:24 AM
Gareth Davis Snr/Gleaner Writer

PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

Following the revelation that a child reportedly died from the dreaded dengue virus, health officials and directors from the Portland Municipal Corporation have launched a public education campaign to sensitise residents about the need to clean up their surroundings.

The public education campaign comes against the background of a startling report provided by Dr Sharon Lewis, Senior Medical Officer in charge of the parish, on Thursday during the monthly sitting of the Portland Municipal Corporation.

Dr Lewis told the corporation that since the start of 2019, there have been 12 suspected cases of the dengue virus in the parish, while adding that in December last year there were a total of nine suspected cases, which resulted in the death of a child.

?There were no reported cases of dengue fever between the periods January and December 2017," noted Dr Lewis.

?No cases were reported at the beginning of last year; however, there were nine suspected cases in December. Most of the suspected dengue cases involves children that are 13 years and under, with conditions severe enough to require admission. Unfortunately, this resulted in the death of child at St. Ann?s Bay Hospital."...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/news...med-her-demise


Central High student dies - Dengue blamed for her demise
by Simone Morgan-Lindo
January 18, 2019

Having won a gold medal in one of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's performing arts competition last year, Central High School student Areel Foster had already began working on a solo entry for this year's contest. The school's choirmaster, Ann-Marie Campbell-Williams, was helping her with her song of choice, Tamela Mann's I Can Only Imagine.

However, the teenager, who along with team members sang their way into the top four of last year's TVJ's All Together Sing, has been robbed of a chance to yet again show off her vocal range. Foster, 14, died at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) on Wednesday morning. It is suspected that she had contracted dengue fever...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/sixte...fever-outbreak


Sixteen deaths attributed to Dengue Fever outbreak
8:31 am, Sat January 19, 2019

Sixteen people are believed to have died from the mosquito borne dengue fever since the outbreak of the mosquito borne disease in Jamaica last year.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacqueline Bissasor-McKenzie, says five of those people died this month.

?As of the 17th , we have 16 suspected dengue related deaths for the period January 2018 to January 17, 2019. Of those, 11 are from 2018 and five are year to date for 2019.?

She says from the start of the year up to January 17 there were 174 suspected dengue cases.

Bissasor-McKenzie notes that the health ministry has extended opening hours at several health facilities to deal with the cases of dengue...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...5?profile=1373

Doctors report more suspected dengue cases in Clarendon
BY SHARLENE HENDRICKS
Staff reporter
Sunday, January 27, 2019

Sixty-five suspected cases of the dengue haemorrhagic fever have been reported at the May Pen Hospital as of January, one of which resulted in the death of 14-year-old Areel Foster.

The teenager was transported from the parish to the Kingston Public Hospital last week where she succumbed to symptoms of the virus.

Head of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at the hospital, Dr Orane Richards, told the Jamaica Observer that the number of suspected cases of dengue has been on the increase, pointing out that, in a single day, 30 out of 87 patients who showed up at the department came with viral symptoms...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/o...rtmore-january

Over 500 dengue notifications in Portmore in January
Loop News Created : 1 February 2019
Jamaica News

Senior Medical Officer (SMO) for St Catherine, Dr Prosper Chen, has revealed that Portmore recorded more than 520 notifications for dengue in the month of January alone, the most for any single community across the country...

...Dr Chen explained that the more than 520 notifications for Portmore in January refer to suspected, presumed and confirmed cases. She said some communities have been more significantly affected than others.

?The notifications that we receive come predominantly from Waterford, Braeton (particularly phase seven), Portsmouth, Greater Portmore, Gregory Park and Christian Pen...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/jamaica...-february-2019

Dengue fever ? Jamaica: Disease outbreak news, 4 February 2019
Report from World Health Organization
Published on 04 Feb 2019 ? View Original
preview

On 3 January 2019, the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of Jamaica notified WHO of an increase in dengue cases in Jamaica.

From 1 January though 21 January 2019, 339 suspected and confirmed cases including six deaths were reported (Figure 1). In 2018, a total of 986 suspected and confirmed cases of dengue including 13 deaths have been reported. The number of reported dengue cases in 2018 was 4.5 times higher than that reported in 2017 (215 cases including six deaths). Cases reported to date for 2019 exceed the epidemic threshold (Figure 2)...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.who.int/csr/don/4-februa...ue-jamaica/en/
Dengue fever ? Jamaica

Disease outbreak news
4 February 2019

On 3 January 2019, the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of Jamaica notified WHO of an increase in dengue cases in Jamaica.
From 1 January though 21 January 2019, 339 suspected and confirmed cases including six deaths were reported (Figure 1). In 2018, a total of 986 suspected and confirmed cases of dengue including 13 deaths have been reported. The number of reported dengue cases in 2018 was 4.5 times higher than that reported in 2017 (215 cases including six deaths). Cases reported to date for 2019 exceed the epidemic threshold (Figure 2).
According to historic data, Jamaica reported a major outbreak in 2016, when 2297 cases of dengue infection including two deaths were reported. Dengue virus 3 (DENV3) and DENV4 circulations were confirmed at the time.
By the end of 2018, the largest number of reported cases were notified by Kingston and Saint Andrew parishes. In 2019 so far, the largest proportion of cases have been reported by Saint Catherine parish.
Laboratory tests have identified DENV3 as the dengue serotype currently circulating.
In January 2019, some countries and territories in the Caribbean region, such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint Martin, reported an increase in dengue cases. Of note, in Saint Martin and Guadeloupe, serotype DENV1 is currently circulating.
Figure 1. Dengue fever cases and deaths by week of onset from 1 January 2018 through 21 January 2019 in Jamaica*




Source: Jamaica Ministry of Health and reproduced by PAHO/WHO
*Cumulative suspected/ presumed/ confirmed cases = 1325
Figure 2. Suspected, presumed and confirmed dengue cases by month for 2018 and 2019 versus monthly averages and epidemic threshold for Jamaica




Source: Jamaica Ministry of Health and reproduced by PAHO/WHO
Public health response

• The Ministry of Health (MoH) declared the dengue outbreak on 3 January 2019.
• Health authorities in Jamaica are implementing measures for the following activities; strengthened integrated vector control, enhanced surveillance of cases, social mobilization, clinical management, enhanced laboratory diagnostic capacity, and emergency risk communications.
• The MoH has been collaborating with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and other international agencies to strengthen and co-ordinate the response activities.
• Since July 2018, the MoH has intensified its vector control activities.
• The MoH launched the Emergency Operations Centre on 27 December 2018; and fully activated it on 3 January 2019 to facilitate the coordination and reporting of activities. The response activities are geared towards strengthening the response capacity with adequate human resources, as well as supporting efforts to reduce the entomological indices for the Aedes aegypti mosquito across the island and enhancing clinical management capacity.

WHO risk assessment

Jamaica has been reporting dengue cases since 1990 and throughout 2018; however, an increase has been observed since December 2018 exceeding the epidemic threshold. Similar large increases were reported in 2010 (2887 cases), 2012 (4670 cases), and 2016 (2297 cases). The increase of dengue in the Caribbean islands may result in more severe secondary dengue virus infections and require comprehensive risk communication.
WHO advice

On 21 November 2018, PAHO/WHO alerted Member States about an increase in dengue cases in countries and territories in the Americas and recommended coordinated actions both inside and outside of the health sector, including prioritizing activities to prevent transmission of dengue as well as deaths due to this disease.
PAHO/WHO further advises to follow the key recommendations regarding outbreak preparedness and response, case management, laboratory, and integrated vector management as published in the 21 November 2018 PAHO/WHO Epidemiological Update on Dengue, available at the link below.

• PAHO Epidemiological Alert: Dengue (21 November 2018)

There is no specific treatment for disease due to dengue; therefore, prevention is the most important step to reduce the risk of dengue infection. WHO recommends proper and timely case management of dengue cases. Surveillance should continue to be strengthened within all affected areas and at the national level. Key public health communication messages should continue to be provided to reduce the risk of transmission of dengue in the population.
In addition, integrated vector management (IVM) activities should be enhanced to remove potential breeding sites, reduce vector populations, and minimize individual exposures. This should include both larval and adult vector control strategies (i.e. environmental management and source reduction, and chemical control measures), as well as strategies to protect individuals and households. Where indoor biting occurs, household insecticide aerosol products, mosquito coils, or other insecticide vaporizers may also reduce biting activity. Household fixtures such as window and door screens and air conditioning can also reduce biting. Since Aedes mosquitoes (the primary vector for transmission) are day-biting mosquitoes, personal protective measures such as use of clothing that minimizes skin exposure during daylight hours is recommended. Repellents may be applied to exposed skin or to clothing. The use of repellents must be in strict accordance with label instructions. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets afford good protection for those who sleep during the day (e.g. infants, the bedridden, and night-shift workers) as well as during the night to prevent mosquito bites.
WHO does not recommend any general travel or trade restrictions be applied based on the information available for this event.

[Shiloh]

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...ses-last-month


St Catherine recorded 534 dengue fever cases last month
Published:Saturday | February 9, 2019 | 12:58 AM

PORTMORE, St Catherine:

The Ministry of Health has said dengue fever notifications are trending down in St Catherine, despite the 534 cases recorded last month.

Speaking at the Portmore leg of a Ministry of Health-sponsored responsibility tour held at the Portmore Community College Thursday night, Principal Medical Officer of Health at the National Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health Dr Karen Webster Kerr said recently collected data have shown that 534 dengue notifications were recorded in St Catherine for January, up from 187 last year, of this number 38 eight per cent came from Portmore alone.?

?I am very cautious, but I will say that there seem to be a tapering off of the notifications received in January, and based on the data we are now collecting, it is possible we could see a downward trend moving forward,? she told The Gleaner.

TYPE 3 STRAIN

?The majority of these notifications were for the Type 3 strain of the virus,? Webster Kerr added. She was not able to say what percentage was for the deadly dengue haemorrhagic fever...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/s...-deaths-now-29

Suspected dengue deaths now at 29
Loop News Created : 13 February 2019
Jamaica News

Jamaica has now recorded 29 deaths that are suspected to have been caused by dengue fever since 2018, according to Health Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton.

Of that number, six have been confirmed ? five from Kingston and St Andrew and one from Portland. The confirmed deaths have all been of children who were under the age of 14 years.

Tufton made the disclosure on Tuesday in giving an update on the dengue outbreak he declared in early January, and the efforts to fight the mosquito-borne disease.

He was speaking during a statement in Parliament.

According to the health minister, as of February 8, there were 1,166 suspected, presumed or confirmed dengue cases since the beginning of the year. There were 1,023 such cases in 2018. But, despite the relatively high number of cases since January, there appears to be some tapering off, Tufton suggested...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...o?profile=1373


PNP questions outbreak of dengue after death of 9-y-o
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Dayton Campbell

KINGSTON, Jamaica ? People's National Party Shadow Minister of Health, Dr Dayton Campbell is calling on the Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton to ?immediately? tell the nation if there is a another dengue outbreak in Jamaica, which would be the second such to have occurred within the year.

Dr Campbell's call comes in the wake of what he said is the death of a nine-year-old child from dengue fever at the Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny.

According to Campbell, he has also been reliably informed that the paediatric ward at the Cornwall Regional Hospital is ?full and overflowing with suspected cases of the fever?...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/suspe...ue-on-the-rise

Suspected cases of dengue on the rise
12:15 pm, Mon August 19, 2019

The Ministry of Health reported on Monday that Jamaica recorded more than 140 suspected cases of dengue fever last month, and attributed this spike to prevailing drought conditions.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacqueline Bisasor McKenzie, speaking Monday morning on TVJ?s Smile Jamaica, said this was significantly higher than the number recorded in July last year.

She revealed that the number of suspected dengue cases recorded for three out of the last five years has been ?above the monthly mean, and comparing this year to last year, we have been way above.?...