Health officials in Jamaica say dengue is still a public health concern in the country, as cases and deaths continue to rise.
As of January 11, 2024, the country had on record 1,534 confirmed Dengue cases. While Dengue types 2, 3, and 4 have been identified among the population, Dengue type 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 cases of the virus, with Kingston & St. Andrew reporting the highest number of cases (1,499) for 2023/24. However, St. Thomas continues to be the parish with the highest rate of 696.1 cases per 100,000 population, followed by Trelawny (551.7) and Hanover with 497.5 per 100,000.
The highest number of cases continues to be observed in the 5–14-year-old cohort at a rate of 885.3 cases per 100,000 population.
CMO urges caution
The island’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, has urged Jamaicans to take every precaution to safeguard themselves.
“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,” cautioned the CMO.
As a reminder, the CMO noted that “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.”
Members of the public are implored not to use aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, or any of the medications/pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs, when used to treat the fever in Dengue, have been known to increase the severity of the disease.
