Jamaica declares deadly disease outbreak one month after Hurricane Melissa
Dr Tufton said officials are taking an “early coordinated approach” toward managing the outbreak.
Jamaica has declared an outbreak of the bacterial disease leptospirosis, just a month after Hurricane Melissa broke records when it hit the nation as a Category 5 storm.
Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr the Hon. Christopher Tufton, confirmed the outbreak via a virtual press conference on November 21. He told reporters the health care system is equipped to deal with infected patients, because it has the appropriate antibiotics in place.
Dr Tufton said at least nine cases were confirmed between Oct. 30 and Nov. 20, with 28 additional suspected cases. At least six deaths have been linked to the blood infection.
When Hurricane Melissa hit in late October, it caused widespread flooding and landslides. In the aftermath, water lay stagnant, creating the perfect conditions for disease formation.
“The outbreak follows the passage of the storm, which has created conditions that have increased the risk of exposure to contaminated water and soil,” Dr Tufton told reporters/.
According to Health Canada, leptospirosis is spread through contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals. It can enter the human body through cuts in the skin, as well as through the eyes, nose, and mouth.
(CDC)
Initial symptoms are often flu-like: Headache, fever, and chills. If left untreated, it can progress into a life-threatening situation, with kidney failure, meningitis, liver damage, or internal bleeding possible.
Dr Tufton said officials are taking an “early coordinated approach” toward managing the outbreak.
“Whether it is the public health inspectors on the ground, the supporting agencies of other Government Ministries, the private sector, and of course PAHO (Pan American Health Organization), it’s an all-hands-on-deck approach, and we will pull through this,” he said in a statement, adding the “outbreak” declaration is important, because it frees up resources like extra staffing and emergency funded needed to treat, detect, and monitor the situation.
“An official declaration signals to the health system that immediate action is needed to identify cases, to contain the spread, and to prevent severe illness or death,” Dr Tufton said.
Members of the public are advised to seek immediate medical attention if they suspect they have developed a leptospirosis infection, and to avoid direct contact with floodwaters.
Header image: Damaged school after Hurricane Melissa made landfall. Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica. Submitted to The Weather Network by Shawn Wenzel.