Seven additional cases of Chikungunya confirmed in Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Health today confirmed seven additional cases of Chikungunya in the island.

Director, Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services, Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse said the positive results were received from samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

This brings the total number of confirmed cases for Jamaica to seventeen – 14 from local transmission, two imported and one still under investigation because of the individual’s travel history.

The affected parishes remain St Thomas, St Catherine, St Ann and Kingston and St Andrew.

“I want to emphasise the importance of protecting oneself from mosquito bites including when travelling to countries with Chikungunya transmission,” Dr Ducasse said.

“Persons should also get rid of mosquitoes and their breeding sites in and around the home and be even more vigilant when they have guests from affected areas.”

She added that major emphasis has to also be placed on finding and destroying mosquito breeding sites.

Chikungunya is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito which is generally found in and around places where people inhabit.

source: jamaica observer