Malaria alert! Kingston and St Catherine

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
How come I haven'tseen any of those confirmations since I've beenseeing these numerous 'suspicions'??

[/ QUOTE ]

I am sorry I overdid it a little I found three in one outbreak. I will try to list some more one hitters later.
Anyway this report is a little colourful, so I will go ahead and post it.

I made sure the person was very dead so that it would be indisputable that someone(s) had actually died from one of these outbreaks of leptospirosis.
I hope this will go a ways in satisfying your questions?


[ QUOTE ]
<font color="brown">On Sunday, scores of mourners turned up at the thanksgiving service to pay their last respects to Williams. Mourners crammed into the Salvation Army church building and any available space they could squeeze into on the church compound. The crowd spilled over on to Market Street, in front of the church, blocking that section of the road.
Williams was one of the three people who died this year of leptospirosis in Trelawny, which recorded 11 suspected cases of the disease.</font>

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html...e_in_death_.asp

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

Still speculation.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
Still speculation.

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean all when the body going out on a handcart and that was just one out of three deaths.... it is still speculation?
Are you serious?

Hitter himself could not have wished for a better Dr. Gobbles than the GOJ have found in you my friend.

[JM1]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
Still speculation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rubbish.

"Jamaica reported 17 cases of Leptospirosis during the reporting period compared to zero cases in the corresponding period of 2005". <u>Report on Communicable Diseases for Weeks 1-12, 2006. Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)</u>



Leptospirosis kills four in Clarendon
Published: Friday | November 4, 2005

Stephanie Elliot and Robert Lalah, Gleaner Writers

A LEPTOSPIROSIS outbreak in Clarendon has led to the deaths of four persons and the hospitalisation of seven others.

Clarendon health officials are predicting the number of persons infected with the disease could exceed 30.

Chief medical officer for Clarendon, Dr. Sonia Copeland, said the Clarendon Health Department has been on high alert after reports of suspected leptospirosis cases increased threefold in just over a week.

Dr. Copeland said there was a rise in rodent infestation in residential communities after heavy rains flooded several communities a few weeks ago. She said health officers were now doing work in the field to determine the extent of the rat infestation.

Dr. Copeland added that there has also been an increase in fly and mosquito infestation since the rains. According to her, the department is working feverishly to address the problem.

Dr. Winston Dawes, senior medical officer at the May Pen Hospital, said he was concerned that persons with symptoms of leptospirosis were waiting far too long before seeking medical attention. He confirmed that, since Tuesday, 11 persons were admitted to hospital with symptoms of the disease. Three of those persons later died while another died in Chapelton. He said the Chapelton patient died within minutes of seeking medical attention.

FOOD STORAGE

Both doctors warned that residents need to pay keen attention to garbage disposal and food storage.

Vernal Webster, of the Clarendon Health Department, said several areas have been placed on high alert because of the leptospirosis outbreak. He said that particular emphasis was being placed on markets and restaurants. He, too, urged residents to ensure that food storage areas remain rodent-free.

Reports of leptospirosis in Clarendon have surfaced from areas such as Rock River, Brandon Hill, Mocho and May Pen.

Link

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Still speculation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rubbish.

"Jamaica reported 17 cases of Leptospirosis during the reporting period compared to zero cases in the corresponding period of 2005". <u>Report on Communicable Diseases for Weeks 1-12, 2006. Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)</u>



Leptospirosis kills four in Clarendon
Published: Friday | November 4, 2005[/i]


[/ QUOTE ]

DWL....I don't think this is enough proof to satify Dr. Gobbels....err Dr. Didd!

Anyway the Malaria ting still kicking up duss:


(2006-12-19)<font color="red">Malaria cases climb to 112</font>
The number of confirmed malaria cases has climbed to 112 but the Health Ministry says there is no truth to reports that the disease is spreading.


(2006-12-19)<font color="red">Canada maintains health advisory about malaria outbreak</font>
Health authorities in Canada have maintained their advisory about the outbreak of malaria....

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/section.php?category=2

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Still speculation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rubbish.

"Jamaica reported 17 cases of Leptospirosis during the reporting period compared to zero cases in the corresponding period of 2005". <u>Report on Communicable Diseases for Weeks 1-12, 2006. Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)</u>



Leptospirosis kills four in Clarendon
Published: Friday | November 4, 2005[/i]


[/ QUOTE ]

DWL....I don't think this is enough proof to satify Dr. Gobbels....err Dr. Didd!

Anyway the Malaria ting still kicking up duss:


(2006-12-19)<font color="red">Malaria cases climb to 112</font>
The number of confirmed malaria cases has climbed to 112 but the Health Ministry says there is no truth to reports that the disease is spreading.


(2006-12-19)<font color="red">Canada maintains health advisory about malaria outbreak</font>
Health authorities in Canada have maintained their advisory about the outbreak of malaria....

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/section.php?category=2

[/ QUOTE ]
Symptoms are just signs of a 'possibillity' the exiatence of an ailment.
Now in medicine we have to wade through a lot of symptoms without 'confirmation',but until they state that there are confirmed diagnosis,it just amounts to speculation.
In my training and the history of my practice I have always used lab confirmation to make definitive diagnosis.
..and in my experience I have seen many of crying wolf, that turn out to be over exuberance to generate sales of news..

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary



DR. G. I thought you might have found this story by now.
It turns out you might be right this time, but you are still incorrect that it is a media fabrication as all the info from start to finish seems to have originated out of the MOH.

<u>story:</u>

Suspected lepto patients released
published: Wednesday | December 20, 2006

Health officials in St. Mary have reported that seven of the eight persons who were suspected of having leptospirosis have been released from hospital.

A medical doctor who spoke with The Gleaner/Power 106 News said the health department was awaiting the results of samples sent for testing a week ago.

Representatives from the parish's public health department say they have been conducting education campaigns to inform persons about leptospirosis.

Meanwhile, the result of an autopsy on the body of a man who was suspected of having the disease has proven negative.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease which affects humans and animals and is caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, particularly rats.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061220/lead/lead7.html

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]


DR. G. I thought you might have found this story by now.
It turns out you might be right this time, but you are still incorrect that it is a media fabrication as all the info from start to finish seems to have originated out of the MOH.

<u>story:</u>

Suspected lepto patients released
published: Wednesday | December 20, 2006

Health officials in St. Mary have reported that seven of the eight persons who were suspected of having leptospirosis have been released from hospital.

A medical doctor who spoke with The Gleaner/Power 106 News said the health department was awaiting the results of samples sent for testing a week ago.

Representatives from the parish's public health department say they have been conducting education campaigns to inform persons about leptospirosis.

Meanwhile, the result of an autopsy on the body of a man who was suspected of having the disease has proven negative.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease which affects humans and animals and is caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, particularly rats.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061220/lead/lead7.html

[/ QUOTE ]

If a story is being carried about a subject,and the definitive diagnosis proved negative,shouldn't the header for the story mention this??
why would they still carry a header as if the status as suspected continues,although they have reason to dowbt it withis new finding. Not to mention that so far there has not been one confirmed case of leptospirosis.
...and you still think that the intent was not to sell npapers at the expence of truth?!?!
well they probably have other agenda,like playing oilitics at the expense of the people. No wonder the majority of the Jamaican ublic does not trust the major news sources.

[Seveen]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

also an attempt to "wag the dog" 'cause no mention at all of the continuing malaria threat

last i read there was quite a backlog of blood tests and

a toil was being felt for regular medical services


[img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[JM1]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

Only confirmed cases of communicable illnesses, (not people who are symptomatic) are reportable to CAREC. The fact is that there were zero cases of leptospirosis reported in the first 3 months of 2005 and 17 in the same period for 2006.

Interestingly, while this information is available from CAREC, an organisation that is based in Trinidad and Tobago, it is nowhere to be found on our own Ministy of Health's meagre website.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
Only confirmed cases of communicable illnesses, (not people who are symptomatic) are reportable to CAREC. The fact is that there were zero cases of leptospirosis reported in the first 3 months of 2005 and 17 in the same period for 2006.

Interestingly, while this information is available from CAREC, an organisation that is based in Trinidad and Tobago, it is nowhere to be found on our own Ministy of Health's meagre website.

[/ QUOTE ]

I see Herr Goebbels has avoided this clarification.
Anyway!

Wed Dec 20, 2006
<font color="brown">Immigrants to be monitored for malaria at all ports of entry</font>

Director of the Environmental Health Unit in the Ministry of Health, Peter Knight, says a monitoring programme is in place for immigrants from countries with malaria.
Speaking at Wednesday morning's press conference, Mr. Knight said stringent monitoring measures are in place at all ports of entry.

And Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Peter Figueroa, says health officials are considering interventions for travellers from countries with malaria even before they arrive in the island.

Wed Dec 20, 2006
<font color="brown">Malaria cases leap to 128 with more samples to be tested</font>

The Ministry of Health has now confirmed 128 cases of malaria even as it continues to implement strategies to control the outbreak.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=0&amp;story=31195

[wolmersboy]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

The sudden rash of malaria and leptospirosis cases have to be seen as a break-down of public health policy. What is important now is to enforce all the simple, common sense preventive measures and get all of the back-logged tests done as quickly as possible.
The health of our communities must not be trifled with--the health and welfare of the population is (or should be!) the primary concern of any government. If we need to ban visitors from countries where malaria is prevalent, then so be it! The health of Jamaicans should never be secondary to any political/economic considerations

[Seveen]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Only confirmed cases of communicable illnesses, (not people who are symptomatic) are reportable to CAREC. The fact is that there were zero cases of leptospirosis reported in the first 3 months of 2005 and 17 in the same period for 2006.

Interestingly, while this information is available from CAREC, an organisation that is based in Trinidad and Tobago, it is nowhere to be found on our own Ministy of Health's meagre website.

[/ QUOTE ]

I see Herr Goebbels has avoided this clarification.
Anyway!

Wed Dec 20, 2006
<font color="brown">Immigrants to be monitored for malaria at all ports of entry</font>

Director of the Environmental Health Unit in the Ministry of Health, Peter Knight, says a monitoring programme is in place for immigrants from countries with malaria.
Speaking at Wednesday morning's press conference, Mr. Knight said stringent monitoring measures are in place at all ports of entry.

And Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Peter Figueroa, says health officials are considering interventions for travellers from countries with malaria even before they arrive in the island.

Wed Dec 20, 2006
<font color="brown">Malaria cases leap to 128 with more samples to be tested</font>

The Ministry of Health has now confirmed 128 cases of malaria even as it continues to implement strategies to control the outbreak.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=0&amp;story=31195

[/ QUOTE ]


can you catch malaria from a person that has malaria?
or they think the mosquitos are passing it from malaria infected persons?
[img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary

[ QUOTE ]
can you catch malaria from a person that has malaria?

[/ QUOTE ]

Via the mosquito.

[ QUOTE ]
or they think the mosquitos are passing it from malaria infected persons?
[img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Most likely that is how it got back into the Island.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Eight suspected cases of leptospirosis in St Mary


Fri Dec 22, 2006
12 new malaria cases pushes tally up to 140

Twelve new malaria cases have been confirmed in the past 48 hours pushing the number of cases to 140.

But despite the increase the health authorities remain confident that they are getting on top of the outbreak which was first reported on December 1.

The health authorities note that the new cases were found in the areas already identified as having persons with malaria.

In addition they note that there has been a reduction in the number of persons reporting malaria type symptoms.

In the meantime the Health Ministry is reporting that it has received 1,000 mosquito nets from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Director of Emergency Disaster management at the Ministry, Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse, says the nets are part of a shipment of 3,000 which should arrive in the island from UNICEF before year end.

Dr. Bullock-Ducasse notes that the mosquito nets are equipped with a small amount of insecticide which makes them safe for humans but kills mosquitos or deters them from feasting on people's blood.

She says persons suspected of having malaria or confirmed with the disease will be given top priority when the nets are being distributed.

Dr. Bullock-Ducasse says in addition to the nets, 6,000 containers of insect repellent are to be distributed in the areas where malaria has been confirmed.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=2&amp;story=31283