- Health Ministry issues caution as cases rise in the Americas
Kingston, Jamaica. Friday, March 7, 2025: The Ministry of Health & Wellness notes the advice of the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), which recommends that Member States continue their efforts to sustain the elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome in our Region. To this end, it is crucial to strengthen surveillance and rapid response to these diseases, as well as to achieve vaccination coverage ≥ 95% with two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Jamaica has had no local spread of measles since 1991 with the last imported case of measles reported in 2011.
The PAHO/WHO Bulletin further states that “the risk of outbreaks has increased, given the increase in measles cases worldwide, coupled with factors such as low coverage of the first and second doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR1 and MMR2) in most countries and territories in the Region; gaps in the performance of integrated measles/rubella surveillance indicators (7); the significant increase in the movement of people within the Americas Region and from other regions of the world; and the increase in dengue cases in the Region, which could mask potential measles or rubella cases, due to the similarity of the clinical manifestations of these diseases”.
While there are currently no local or imported cases of measles in the country, Jamaica maintains a robust surveillance system for fever and rash and all cases are reported within 24 hours, while suspected measle cases are reported immediately.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, CD notes that “most cases of Measles are mild, and symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure to an infected person but may appear as early as seven days and as late as 21 days after exposure. Measles typically begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.”
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out, usually as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
The CMO further cautioned that “complications from measles include ear infection and diarrhea, while severe complications include pneumonia, swelling of the brain and death. Infected pregnant women may give birth prematurely or have a low-birth-weight baby”.
Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. To stop the disease from spreading, if there is an outbreak, 95% of children in Jamaica need to be fully vaccinated with the two doses- MMR1 at 12 months and MMR2 at 18 months. Jamaica’s vaccination coverage for MMR has been relatively high over the years, with preliminary figures for 2024 at 94% for MMR1 at 93% for MMR2.The target of at least 95% has not been met. The Ministry reminds all parents/guardians to ensure their children’s/wards’ MMR vaccination status is up to date for their age to ensure the best protection against measles.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness will continue to monitor the island for imported cases of measles and members of the public may call 888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683) or visit the nearest parish health department for more information.