Westmoreland health officials step up surveillance amid regional hantavirus concerns
Health authorities in Westmoreland have intensified surveillance measures in response to regional concerns about hantavirus, even though no confirmed cases have been detected in Jamaica, a senior health official said.
Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, said monitoring efforts have been strengthened at ports of entry as a precautionary measure against potential exposure linked to international travel.
She made the disclosure during a meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar on Thursday, May 14.
Dr. Graham said individuals identified as possible contacts would be closely monitored due to the virus’s incubation period, which can range from one to eight weeks. She noted that suspected cases would typically be isolated for up to six weeks as a precaution, although no cases are currently under surveillance locally.
Hantavirus is a rare but serious disease that is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, and public health officials across the region have been maintaining heightened awareness amid global monitoring efforts.
Dr. Graham also urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation, citing the circulation of fake public health notices on social media falsely using the Ministry of Health and Wellness branding.
She encouraged residents to rely on verified sources, including the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition to hantavirus surveillance, she reiterated calls for stronger mosquito-breeding prevention and rodent-control measures in communities to reduce broader public health risks.
Dr. Graham also raised concern about a continued rise in accidental poisonings among children in the parish, urging parents and caregivers to properly store household chemicals and other hazardous substances out of reach.
“We’re still seeing too many children admitted to the hospital with accidental poisoning,” she said.
