Psychiatrist, Dr. Winston De La Haye, is the country’s Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO), replacing Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, who has retired. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley, during a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, in Kingston, on February 2. A former Medical Association of Jamaica President, Dr. De La Haye chairs...

Beginning this week, several of the nation’s major gullies and drains will be cleaned, as the Government heightens activities to eradicate possible mosquito breeding sites. The clean-up activities, which will cost $200 million, are being carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) Secretariat. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Horace...

The Ministry of Health has heightened its fever and rash surveillance system, as part of measures to monitor suspected cases of the Zika Virus (ZikV). ZikV is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in and around areas where people live, work and play. “The islandwide enhanced surveillance system is in place to monitor all fever and rash cases, neurological...

Representatives of the island’s 14 local authorities are reporting that extensive works have been undertaken at the community level in preparation for the Zika virus (ZikV). These include drain and gully cleaning, bushing, training, mobilisation of health information officers, distribution of nets to cover water drums, and public education through town hall meetings, distribution of flyers, and town criers. They...

It is now easier for motorists to enter and exit the grounds of the Percy Junor Hospital following improvement works undertaken at a cost of $9.2 million under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). The two-month project, which was completed towards the end of last year, involved widening and paving of the driveway and parking areas,  relocation of the guardhouse,...

A national clean-up campaign is to get underway next week, as Government steps up its Zika Virus (ZikV) preparations and response. The project is being undertaken by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. “Each Member of Parliament and Councillor will be given (monetary)...

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...