INTRODUCTION
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR COMING. TODAY I WANT TO ADDRESS TWO ISSUES – THE MATTER OF MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES PARTICULARLY ZIKA VIRUS AND THE OUTBREAK OF HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (HFMD) THAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN SOME INFANT, PRIMARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOLS. LET ME BEGIN WITH THE MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES.
MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES
THERE HAS BEEN TALK THAT THERE ARE CASES OF ZIKA VIRUS IN JAMAICA. AT THIS TIME, BASED ON ADVICE FROM MY TECHNICAL TEAM, THIS IS NOT SO. IN FACT, OUTSIDE OF BRAZIL, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CASES CONFIRMED IN ANY COUNTRY IN THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION INCLUDING JAMAICA.
LAST WEEKEND WE SENT A SAMPLE TO THE CARIBBEAN PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY (CARPHA) FOR TESTING FOR CHIKUNGUNYA, DENGUE AND ZIKA. THE MEDIA WOULD WELL REMEMBER THAT A PRESS RELEASE ADVISING THE COUNTRY ABOUT THIS WAS DONE EARLIER THIS WEEK BY MY MINISTRY. THE CARPHA LABORATORY IS THE REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR THE CARIBBEAN AND IS THE ONLY LAB THAT CAN CONFIRM TEST RESULTS FOR THE ZIKA VIRUS AND OTHERS OF THIS NATURE.
CARPHA REPORTED TO US THAT THE SAMPLE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR THE THREE (3) VIRUSES – DENGUE, CHIKUNGUNYA AND ZIKA. I ASSURE YOU THAT IF WE DO CONFIRM A CASE OF ZIKA IN JAMAICA THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WILL INFORM THE COUNTRY PROMPTLY AS WE ALWAYS DO IN THESE SITUATIONS.
WE CONTINUE TO URGE PERSONS TO DESTROY MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES AND PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM MOSQUITO BITES. THIS IS THE PERIOD WHEN WE GENERALLY SEE AN INCREASE IN MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES AND WITH THE RAINS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING RECENTLY, THE POTENTIAL FOR MOSQUITO BREEDING AND THEREFORE THE SPREAD OF THESE DISEASES HAS INCREASED.
WE CONTINUE TO STRESS THAT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY IS IMPORTANT WITH RESPECT TO THIS MATTER AS THE AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITO WHICH SPREADS THESE VIRUSES PRIMARY BREEDS IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, PLAY WORSHIP AND GENERALLY CONGREGATE.
HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
I NOW MOVE TO THE PRESENT OUTBREAK OF HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. BASED ON THE REPORTS WE HAVE SO FAR RECEIVED, THIS DISEASE HAS AFFECTED SCHOOLS IN ALL PARISHES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRELAWNY, HANOVER, MANCHESTER AND CLARENDON.
WE ENCOURAGE PERSONS IN THESE PARISHES TO REPORT TO US PROMPTLY IF CASES ARE FOUND AND PARENTS TO INFORM THE SCHOOLS IF THEIR CHILDREN ARE ILL WITH THE DISEASE. AS OF LAST NIGHT NINETY EIGHT (98) SCHOOLS REPORTED A TOTAL OF THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN (313) CASES. MOST OF THE CASES REPORTED WERE FROM SCHOOLS IN ST CATHERINE – 38 SCHOOLS WITH 153 CASES. KINGSTON AND ST. ANDREW HAD REPORTS OF 67 CASES FROM 20 SCHOOLS. ST. THOMAS HAD REPORTS FROM 11 SCHOOLS WITH 39 CASES.
IN THE NORTH-EAST REGION, PORTLAND HAD REPORTS OF 13 CASES FROM 13 SCHOOLS AND ST. ANN HAD 17 CASES FROM 6 SCHOOLS. TWO SCHOOLS IN ST. MARY REPORTED THAT THEY HAD CASES, BUT THE NUMBER OF CASES WAS NOT REPORTED. IN THE WESTERN REGION, WESTMORELAND AND ST. JAMES REPORTED 9 CASES EACH FROM 4 AND 2 SCHOOLS RESPECTIVELY. IN THE SOUTHERN REGION, ST. ELIZABETH REPORTED 6 CASES FROM 2 SCHOOLS. A TOTAL OF 11 SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS CLOSED.
HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IS NOT A NOTIFIABLE DISEASE IN JAMAICA. REPORTS INTO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WOULD THEREFORE NOT BE EXPECTED ON A ROUTINE BASIS. OF NOTE IS THAT NOT ALL OF THESE CASES ARE CURRENT. WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTING THAT SCHOOLS REPORT CASES AND IN SOME INSTANCES, SCHOOLS HAVE REPORTED CASES THAT OCCURRED A MONTH AGO. IN ANY EVENT, GIVEN THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF THE OUTBREAK AT THIS TIME, WE ARE CONTINUING INVESTIGATIONS AND DOING LAB TESTING TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC ORGANISM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPREAD.
HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IS VERY CONTAGIOUS WHICH MEANS IT SPREADS EASILY ESPECIALLY AMONG INFANTS AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD WHO TEND TO SHARE TOYS, FOOD AND PLAY TOGETHER. OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE BUT TO A LESSER EXTENT.
ACTIONS TAKEN
THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE PARISH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS BEGAN TAKING ACTION THE MOMENT WE STARTED TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM SCHOOLS. I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT THE PARISH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR INVESTIGATIONS AND FOLLOW UP ACTIONS IN THE AFFECTED SCHOOLS. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
THE MINISTRY HAS PREPARED AND MADE AVAILABLE GUIDELINES ON MANAGING HFMD TO SCHOOLS THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. WE HAVE MADE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND INVITE PERSONS TO VISIT MOH.GOV.JM TO KEEP UPDATED ON THE MATTER.
THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS ALSO HEIGHTENED ITS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ISLANDWIDE TO ENSURE THAT CASES ARE REPORTED IN A TIMELY MANNER. EACH DAY, DATA AND INFORMATION ARE BEING SUBMITTED TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH FROM ALL PARISH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, WITH ANALYSIS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE MINISTRY TO GUIDE THE ACTIVITIES ISLANDWIDE.
SINCE AUGUST, THE MINISTRY INTENSIFIED ITS INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL CAMPAIGN AND HAS BEEN URGING PERSONS TO OBSERVE PROPER HYGIENE PRACTICES AT ALL TIMES INCLUDING WASHING HANDS REGULARLY WITH SOAP AND WATER AND COVERING NOSE AND MOUTH WHEN SNEEZING AND COUGHING TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF GERMS. THESE PRACTICES CAN HELP TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF HFMD.
I WANT TO REMIND TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO LIMIT PERSON TO PERSON CONTACT SUCH AS HUGGING, KISSING OR SHARING UTENSILS ESPECIALLY FOR AFFECTED CHILDREN. I APPEAL TO PARENTS TO REMOVE THEIR CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST 7 SEVEN DAYS TO ALLOW THEM TO FULLY RECOVER SO AS TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION TO OTHERS.
SCHOOLS SHOULD ALSO FREQUENTLY CLEAN AND DISINFECT AREAS PARTICULARLY THOSE WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN FREQUENT. WE ARE ASKING SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE REPORT TO THE MEDICAL OFFICERS IN THEIR PARISH OR TO THE PARISH HEALTH DEPARTMENT IF THEY SUSPECT THAT THERE MAY BE CASES OF THE ILLNESS IN THEIR SCHOOL.
ABOUT HFMD
HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE IS A COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESS CAUSED BY A VIRUS. THE ILLNESS MOST OFTEN OCCURS BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE AND BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER BUT CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME. IT IS MOST FREQUENTLY SEEN IN YOUNG CHILDREN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS.
IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY FEVER AND A BLISTER-LIKE RASH INSIDE THE MOUTH AND ALSO AFFECTING THE PALMS OF THE HANDS AND SOLES OF THE FEET, KNEES, ELBOWS, BUTTOCKS AND GENITAL AREA. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. SUPPORTIVE CARE, INCLUDING FEVER MANAGEMENT, AND PREVENTION OF DEHYDRATION ARE THE PRIMARY GOALS.
I WANT TO ASSURE PARENTS THAT WHILE EVERY VIRAL INFECTION IN CHILDREN IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN USUALLY HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE GOES AWAY ON ITS OWN AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. HOWEVER, IF YOUR CHILD’S FEVER REMAINS ELEVATED DESPITE APPROPRIATE FEVER-REDUCING DRUGS, OR IF HE OR SHE DEVELOPS ANY SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION INCLUDING DRY SKIN, WEIGHT LOSS, PERSISTENT IRRITABILITY, LETHARGY, OR DECREASED URINE OUTPUT, YOU SHOULD SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. WHEN CONCERNED OR IN DOUBT, CONTACT YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER OR YOUR NEAREST PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY.
I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM AT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND IN THE PARISHES. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING NON-STOP ON SEVERAL MATTERS INCLUDING HFMD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION UNTIL THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED.
HOWEVER, I MAKE A SPECIAL APPEAL TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE UMBRELLA GROUP OF CHURCHES, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MAYORS AND COUNCILLORS TO PLAY YOUR PART DURING THIS SPECIAL PERIOD.
THANK YOU.