Zika Virus in Jamaica

Jamaica Confirms First Case of the Zika Virus

Posted 1 Feb 2016 Originally published 30 Jan 2016
The Ministry of Health has confirmed one case of the Zika virus in Jamaica.
The patient who has now recovered is a four year old child from Portmore, St. Catherine. The child began showing symptoms on January 17, 2016 after earlier returning to Jamaica from travel to Texas in the United States. The child was investigated at the Bustamante Hospital for Children and samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing on January 26, 2016. The Ministry received the positive zika virus test result from CARPHA late Friday afternoon (January, 29, 2016). The case is being investigated to determine the source of infection and the child’s parents and family have been contacted and briefed by a team from the Ministry of Health. No other family member is ill at this time.
As part of its investigations the Ministry of Health has undertaken the necessary community interventions in and around the area where the child lives to determine whether there are other cases and has heightened vector control activities. The Minister of Health will provide a full update to the nation at a press briefing to be held on Monday, February 1, 2016.

In the meantime, the Ministry is advising persons, particularly pregnant women, to take extra precaution to prevent being bitten by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which transmit the Zika virus. There is adequate medication available in the public health system at this time to treat the symptoms of Zika virus infection in the event of additional cases being identified.

extracted from https://reliefweb.int/report/jamaica/jamaica-confirms-first-case-zika-virus

Over 7,000 suspected cases of Zika virus in Jamaica

LOOP NEWS CREATED : 3 DECEMBER 2016 JAMAICA NEWS
Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health Dr Winston De La Haye has indicated that there are 7,171 suspected cases of the Zika virus in Jamaica.
So far, 200 of the cases have been confirmed.

Dr De La Haye pointed to a total of 9,318 notified cases, which means the persons involved thought they were infected with the virus and have seen healthcare professional as a result of their perceptions.

A total of 75 pregnant women have tested positive for the Zika virus, while there are other suspected cases.
However, Dr De La Haye said despite the large figures, the rate of positive Zika cases has been falling.
He cited the impact of an initiative of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Food for the Poor, which involved the distribution of 200,000 drum covers to help control the spread of the Aedes Egypti mosquito that spreads the Zika virus.

extracted from http://www.loopjamaica.com:8080/content/over-7000-suspected-cases-zika-virus-jamaica

Zika Update as at January 20, 2017

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Ministry of Health & Wellness
On February 1, 2016 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This designation is reserved for public health crises which will have global reach. The first case of Zika virus in Jamaica was confirmed on January 29, 2016.

Cases of Zika virus in Jamaica

As at January 20, 2017, the Ministry of Health received nine thousand six hundred and five (9,605) notifications for the zika virus of which seven thousand three hundred and seventy one (7,371) or seventy seven percent (77%) fit the case definition for Zika and were classified as “Suspected Zika”.

Zika and Pregnancy

There were six hundred and fifty (650) cases of suspected Zika virus infection in pregnant women reported. Seventy seven (77) of these suspected cases have tested positive.

Congenital Syndrome Associated with Zika Virus Infection

There was a report of one (1) infant born at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital with microcephaly (confirmed using growth charts) received on January 10, 2017. The mother reportedly had a fever and a rash in pregnancy. The infant was born December 2016. This case was classified as a probable case of Congenital Syndrome associated with Zika Virus Infection. Testing of Mother and child is currently being undertaken.

Neurological Complications of Zika Virus Infection

There were one hundred and fifty seven (157) notifications for Guillain Barre (paralysis) Syndrome (GBS); thirty seven (37) of these fit the case definition for GBS based on clinical signs, symptoms and investigation results and were deemed suspected cases. Four (4) were zika positive.

extracted from https://www.moh.gov.jm/zika-update-as-at-january-20-2017/