Nearly 600 dengue cases, but Health Ministry urges calm

Nearly 600 Jamaicans have so far been hit by dengue fever since the start of the year.

Epidemiologist Dr Karen Webster Kerr said there have been 570 suspected cases of dengue so far this year, compared to 177 cases for 2017.

"Based on the information we have now, we are having a more active season. However, it is not at outbreak level at this time, but we continue to monitor the levels of dengue," she said.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie said that while there has been an increase in the number of dengue and influenza cases, there is no need for alarm, noting that the majority of cases are mild.

She said that persons should immediately seek medical attention if they develop complications such as bleeding, which could be a sign of dengue haemorrhagic fever.