The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment is taking proactive steps in preparing players in the hospitality trade for any effects from the Chikungunya virus, which has been affecting sections of the country. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, told JIS News that the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has been supporting a number of initiatives, being undertaken by the Ministry of...

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse is urging persons at greater risk for more severe symptoms of Chikungunya to seek medical treatment immediately at a health centre or their doctor if they experience symptoms of the disease. Symptoms of chikungunya fever include high fever, joint pain mainly in the hands, wrists and ankles and other joints, headache, muscle...

Introduction   Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to speak to a very important matter related to public health. We are faced with an increase in the spread of the chikungunya virus. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the robust discussion that we have been having across the island because it tells me that Jamaicans are at...

The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has joined the Ministry of Health-led public education campaign on the chikungunya virus (chikV). Mayor of Kingston, Senator Angela Brown Burke, on September 9, made the announcement at a meeting of the Council at her Church Street chambers, in downtown Kingston. “Part of the campaign is to make sure that we are not...

The Ministry of Health has confirmed four additional cases of Chikungunya bringing the total number of confirmed cases for the country to twenty one (21).   Of this number eighteen (18) are from local transmission, two (2) imported and one (1) considered cryptic due the uncertainty of whether the virus was contracted while traveling overseas or from a household contact. Director,...

1. What is Chikungunya? Chikungunya fever is an emerging mosquito-borne disease caused by an alphavirus, Chikungunya virus. The disease is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito. CHIKV is spread when the female Aedes mosquito bites an infected person and then bites other people. 2. Does Jamaica have both the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus...

With 10 confirmed cases of the Chikungunya Virus across the parishes of St. Thomas, St. Catherine, St. Ann and Kingston and St. Andrew, everyone round about Jamaica is being urged to take precautionary measures

Representatives of the Ministries of Health, and Education, are scheduled to meet on August 19 to explore and develop strategies to prevent any possible threat of a spread which the Chikungunya virus could pose for schools, currently preparing for September’s start of the 2014/15 academic year. In noting that the Education Ministry deems the virus a “major threat” to schools,...

The Ministry of Health has confirmed two additional locally transmitted cases of Chikungunya. Director, Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse said the positive results were received on August 15 from samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).  This brings the total number of confirmed cases for Jamaica to ten – eight from local transmission...

Ministry of Health confirms four new Chikungunya cases; JCFmaking changes to prevent injuries to persons in police custody; and Education Ministry confirms teachers will be paid retroactive sums.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed another four locally transmitted cases of Chikungunya. Director, Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse said the positive results were received today from samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).  This brings the total number of confirmed cases for Jamaica to eight – six from local transmission and two...