Known The Signs And Protect Yourself
There is an outbreak of Dengue in Jamaica.
In reporting the outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease, the Ministry of Health & Wellness said its National Surveillance Unit advised that Jamaica has surpassed the Dengue epidemic threshold for July and August and is on a trajectory to do the same for the month of September.
According to the Ministry, “This means, the country has seen an increase in the number of cases compared to what is normally seen during these months of the year”
It said as of Friday, September 22, 2023, the country had recorded 565 suspected, presumed and confirmed cases of Dengue. Of that number, 78 cases had been confirmed with majority of the cases seen in Kingston & St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas. The dominant strain is Dengue Type 2, which last predominated in 2010. There are no Dengue-related deaths classified at this time, however, six deaths are being investigated.
Dr Tamika Henry Medical Officer of Health
In the context of the outbreak, the North Coast Times is repeating advice from the Medical Officer of Health for St Ann, Dr Tamika Henry. When this recording was done, there was no outbreak yet. The advice is useful to people beyond the Coast. She spoke to the Times after the recent St Ann Municipal Corporation Meeting.
Listen:
Dengue fever 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. The Ministry urges members of the public 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.
