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Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says that the public health system is under severe pressure resulting from the influx of people in need of medical attention for suspected dengue fever, gastroenteritis and other flu-like symptoms.
Regarding dengue, Tufton told parliament last week that as of February 8, 1,166 cases of dengue fever were suspected, presumed or confirmed since the beginning of the year.
There were 1,023 cases of this type in 2018.
He also revealed that there had been 29 suspected dengue deaths since 2018 and that six such cases had been confirmed by laboratory tests.
Five of the cases were in Kingston and St Andrew and one in Portland.
Tufton, in a statement, said that a number of facilities were experiencing significant overpopulation.
"In Kingston, the Bustamante Children's Hospital is particularly affected, mothers arriving with children with severe symptoms," Tufton said.
He added that measures had been put in place to combat this problem, including removing the reservation fees until further notice and extending the opening hours of some facilities.
Parents of children with flu-like symptoms are encouraged to visit the West Indies University Hospital in St Andrew for assessment and treatment.
Until further notice, the government will remove the fees charged to the facility.
"We remind citizens that we have extended the opening hours of a number of health centers in the corporate sector," Tufton said.
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