Health authorities in Westmoreland, Jamaica, have heightened surveillance activities in response to regional concerns about hantavirus, despite no confirmed cases within the country. Dr. Marcia Graham, the region’s Medical Officer of Health, disclosed these measures during a meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar.
Dr. Graham emphasised the intensified monitoring at Jamaica’s ports of entry to mitigate any potential exposure to the virus through international travel. She explained that individuals who may have been in contact with the virus will be closely monitored, given that hantavirus can have an incubation period of one to eight weeks. Those infected are typically quarantined for a minimum of six weeks.
Reassuring the public, Dr. Graham stated that currently, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus under surveillance in Jamaica. Nonetheless, she urged the community to refrain from spreading misinformation, highlighting the circulation of false public health notices using the Ministry of Health and Wellness’s logo on social media platforms.
The Medical Officer also advised residents to verify health-related information through trustworthy sources such as the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Furthermore, Dr. Graham reiterated the importance of preventing mosquito breeding and controlling rodent populations in local communities. She raised concerns regarding the ongoing issue of accidental poisoning among children, urging parents to securely store harmful household chemicals and other dangerous substances out of their reach.
