Jamaica dengue update
In a follow-up on the dengue fever situation in Jamaica, the Jamaica Ministry of Health and Wellness said last week that dengue is still a concern in the country and offers recommendations to limit mosquito breeding:
Persons are asked to play their part in ensuring that the Dengue cases are minimized by monitoring water storage containers for mosquito breeding; keeping surroundings free of debris; destroying or treating potential mosquito breeding sites; wearing protective clothing and using a DEET-containing mosquito repellant, according to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
In addition, the CMO advised:
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that is usually a mild illness in which a person may get a fever, headache, joint, and muscle pains. Rest and adequate hydration are usually enough to see one through the period of illness. The recommended treatment for the fever is acetaminophen/paracetamol.
As of Thursday, January 11, 2024, the country had on record 1,534 confirmed Dengue cases. While Dengue Serotypes 2, 3 and 4 have been identified among the population, Dengue Serotype 2 remains the dominant strain. At the same time, there have been a total of 19 Dengue-related deaths – 13 classified as suspected and six as confirmed.
All parishes continue to observe Dengue cases, with Kingston & St. Andrew reporting the highest number of cases (1,499) for 2023/24.
