Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed that one person on the island has died from dengue, while three other persons are suspected to have died due to the virus.
The four cases were among a total of six deaths that were under investigation by the ministry.
The number of infections has also nearly doubled since the ministry confirmed an outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus last weekend.
Jamaica now has 1,060 presumed, suspected, and confirmed dengue cases, up from some 500 cases last reported. Of that number, 132 are confirmed dengue cases with the Type 2 strain dominating the infections.
All parishes have recorded dengue cases, with Kingston & St Andrew, St Thomas, St. Catherine, Portland, and St James having the most confirmed infections.
The health ministry says the 5 –14 age cohort continues to be the most affected, followed by persons 25-59 years old.
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Starting October 2, children under the age of 18 years will not be charged a fee for health care services at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Tufton said yesterday that the measure is in response to the dengue outbreak, which has caused an influx of cases at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston.
“We have spoken to the UHWI to allow persons affected who cannot be accommodated, particularly children at the Bustamente hospital, to take that overflow,” the minister said.
Dr. Tufton has also urged school administrators to be on high alert and to follow proper procedures when dealing with affected children.
“There is a conversation taking place around looking at those institutions where mosquito breeding sites are present and how we eradicate those working with the parish health teams,” he said.
Symptoms of dengue include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small number of cases, the potentially deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) may develop, resulting in internal bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and high fever.
About one in four people infected with the infection will get sick.
Dr. Tufton said that local blood banks are also on high alert, should the outbreak intensify and cases progress to severe dengue.
