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What is swine influenza?Swine influenza, or "swine flu", is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased...

The homeless and mentally challenged in Junction and its environs will continue to enjoy a better quality of life at the Care Centre in that St. Elizabeth town. Although it has been operating since March 2009, the Junction Centre was officially opened on Wednesday (April 22) at a ceremony held on the grounds of the Junction Health Centre. The facility...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has lauded the Jamaica 4-H Clubs for helping to shape the youth into responsible individuals, who are focussed and capable of making a contribution to the country's advancement. Speaking at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs National Achievement Day and Expo at the Denbigh Showgrounds in Clarendon on Friday, April 24, Minister...

Hundreds of adults and children from Lottery, and surrounding communities in St. James, recently benefitted from three days of free health care, under an initiative between the Ministry of Health and the United States military. "Beyond the Horizon", was carried out by the United States Southern Command, and included assistance as well as construction and renovation projects, designed to promote...

As it seeks to increase awareness of the importance immunisation, the Manchester Health Department, yesterday (April 24) launched Immunisation Week. The launch involved a march through the town of Mandeville, and a brief ceremony held at the Mandeville Park. Senior Public Health Nurse for the parish, Dalcie Stevenson, told JIS News that the event was to ensure that parents are...

Following a temporary break, eye screening under Phase two of the Jamaica/Cuba Eyecare Project will resume in western Jamaica on Monday(April 27). Project Coordinator, Claudetta Williams-Yearde told JIS News that between April 27 and June 12, residents in Westmoreland, St. James, Hanover and Trelawny will be able to visit select health centres for eye screenings. Under phase two of the...

Government's commitment to promoting healthy public lifestyle is being highlighted by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Grace Allen-Young. Speaking at the annual conference of the St. Mary Health Department at the Anglican Church Hall, Port Maria, on Thursday (April 16), Dr. Allen-Young said the Ministry will be focussing on a number of areas, including the promotion of...

It has taken the Registrar General's Department (RGD) just eight years as an Executive Agency to achieve the coveted Model 'C' designation. This means that the RGD is no longer a call on the country's budget for its daily expenses, as it earns money from its operation to pay its bills. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RGD, Dr. Patricia...

The prevalence of vectors in Jamaica has made mapping the entire island for these organisms a challenging goal for the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health (MOH). However, in its bid to curtail the spread of insect vectors or vector-borne illnesses, the Unit continues to work assiduously to carry out Vector Control activities in communities across the island....

The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS must be addressed in order to stem the spread of the virus, says Winstone Zulu, one of Africa's best known advocates for awareness and action on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB). He was delivering a public lecture at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus on Thursday April 16. "I fight HIV, but then...

The Ministry of Health and Environment has activated its emergency protocol in light of the threat of industrial action by some 800 doctors in the public health sector. Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, said that part of the emergency protocol would be to scale down activities in the health sector and focus on emergency care. "The...

The Ministry of Health and Environment is working on reducing the delays being experienced by the public at Government health facilities. This has been confirmed by Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), Dr. Patrick Bhoorasingh, who admits that the waiting time is the main area of concern for patients visiting the hospital, since the removal of...