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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Monday, February 18, 2019 – The Ministry of Health
has put Jamaica on the alert with regard to the significant increase in
the number of reported cases of fever and respiratory illness across the country
island.
Minister of Health Dr. Christopher
Tufton said the data collected over the past two weeks indicates an increase in
a particular type of flu.
Parishes have a growing tendency
include Kingston and St. Andrew, Trelawny, Clarendon, Manchester, St.
Elizabeth and Portland.
"The flu must be taken seriously,
because it can lead to pneumonia and bloodstream infections, and cause diarrhea and
convulsions in children. Influenza can also worsen chronic diseases such as
heart or lung disease, "he said.
Dr. Tufton said that more people
the risk of serious flu complications are infants and young children,
adults 65 years and older, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases
weakening of the immune system.
With the activation of the alert
status, the ministry will strengthen its public education campaign to strengthen
good hand hygiene and emphasize the respiratory etiquette; activate the enhanced
infection control program in hospitals and health facilities to prevent,
control and investigate communicable diseases; and increase the stock of
medicines in hospitals and health facilities to respond to the increase in
number of people hospitalized.
The ministry will also expand the
opening hours of health centers to allow access to populations at risk,
including the elderly and children under five; and carry on
implementation of overpopulation management plans in major hospitals
across the island.
Dr. Tufton informed that 21,900
doses of influenza vaccine were purchased by the Department through the intermediary of the Pan
Revolving Fund of the United States Health Organization (PAHO) and distributed to the parish
health services end of October 2018 and vaccination of target groups
started in November 2018.
These include health workers;
children and the elderly with chronic diseases; pregnant women, especially those
on the Program for Advancement through Health and Education (PATH); people
institutionalized or supported by the state; and non-health frontline workers.
He said that people can access the
vaccine from any public health center / clinic for free.
Dr. Tufton encouraged health care
private sector providers to obtain the influenza vaccine through
private distributors to provide the population with a focus on the
high risk groups.
"The vaccine can be received in private
by members of the public any general practitioner and pediatrician to a
minimal cost, "he said.
Seasonal influenza is an acute viral infection that is easily transmitted from person to person, mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact.
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