PAHO to help identify illness affecting Jamaican soldiers
The government of Jamaica is seeking the assistance of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in determining what caused at least 80 members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to remain in isolation after falling ill last week while training.
Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Winston De La Haye, says tests have shown that the soldiers are not suffering from the H1N1 virus as had originally feared.
“So far, we have had no result which is positive for H1N1, which is one of the diagnoses entertained, neither is there any other influenza type virus. Other viruses can present those types of symptoms,” he said.
At least one soldier is reported to be in critical condition.
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, has sought to reassure the public that enough medication is available to treat the recruits, if they are indeed suffering from the effects of the H1N1 virus.
He says there is also enough medication to be used for staff members who may be dealing with suspected cases.
PAHO has been called to test samples to rule out other organisms, such as mycoplasma and legionella.
