The Ministry of Health wishes to advise the public that there are no cases of yellow fever in Jamaica.
Yellow Fever is a Class 1 notifiable disease, which means it is to be reported to the Ministry of Health within 24 hours on suspicion by a healthcare professional. The Ministry has not received any such report.
To prevent the importation of the yellow fever virus into Jamaica where the disease does not occur, but where the mosquito vector and human hosts are present, vaccination against yellow fever is required for Jamaicans travelling overseas to destinations that are reported by the World Health Organisation as countries at risk for yellow fever transmission. The Ministry of Health also undertakes surveillance at the ports of entry in respect of persons arriving from these destinations.
Yellow fever vaccines are available and administered at the Comprehensive Health Centre in Kingston and at the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Centre in St. James. The vaccine should be administered at least 10 days prior to travel.
Yellow fever is an acute illness caused by the yellow fever virus, which is found in the tropics of South America and Africa. The virus is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, such as the Aedes, the same vector that transmits the chikungunya, dengue and zika viruses.
The Ministry of Health is reiterating the importance of personal protection against mosquito bites and continues to heighten its mosquito control activities island-wide during this week’s observance of mosquito awareness week.
Individuals may call the Ministry of Health or the nearest health centre for more information. Persons may also visit our website at moh.gov.jm, and like and follow us on www.facebook.com/themohgovjm; https://twitter.com/themohgovjm; and https://instagram.com/themohgovjm