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The out break the chikungunya virus is spreading throughout the island of Jamaica. The virus is spread through mosquitoes bites from people to people. Hospital and clinics are swamp with patients experiencing joint pain. There is no vaccines or medicine to treat the virus. Pain killers is the only alternative to ease the pain. This is a state of emergency, jamaican government must seek out side help for the people
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Last edited by SKYJUICE221; 09-19-2014, 04:11 PM. -
Outside help to do what? -
Liar liar pants on fire!
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Ferguson bashes Opposition over chikungunya claims
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Health Minister Fenton Ferguson has rebuked political opponents for what he says are attempts to create panic with alarmist pronouncements about the chikungunya virus.
"I see the last couple of days that there are elements within the Opposition, and more so elements in opposition in eastern Jamaica, trying to use a disease to create panic in our country," Ferguson told a People's National Party (PNP) constituency conference at Junction, South East St Elizabeth late Sunday.
Ferguson told PNP constituency workers and hardcore supporters at the BB Coke High School that while "constructive criticism" was important, the health sector, like education, should not be treated as "political football".
"We cannot play with the health of a country by playing politics," Ferguson, who is Member of Parliament for St Thomas Eastern, told Comrades.
The PNP hardcore had gathered to reconfirm their support for SE St Elizabeth MP Richard Parchment ahead of the PNP's national conference later this month.
In obvious reference to criticism that his ministry was understating the number of confirmed cases of chikungunya, Ferguson said that the Government had to rely on scientific laboratory tests to confirm the disease whose symptoms closely resemble dengue fever and influenza.
Up to the weekend, there were 24 confirmed cases of chikungunya in Jamaica.
"You can't just get up and say you have chik-V (chikungunya), we have to send samples to (specialist laboratory) Trinidad to confirm whether it is chik-V because there are other diseases that mimic chik-V... when you get up and you have muscular pain and fever and pain in the joints you can't just say is chik-V but that is what they (political opponents) want to do to create panic," Ferguson said.
Like dengue fever, chikungunya -- which in recent months has taken hold throughout the Caribbean and much of the Americas -- is spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Symptoms of chikungunya include high fever, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, and a rash. Death as a result of the disease is said to be rare but it is categorised as being extremely dangerous to the old, infirm and the very young as well as those whose immune system have been weakened by illness. Medical experts say that in some cases chikungunya can lead to long-term pain in the joints.
There is no known cure for the disease with its victims having to wait for the illness to run its course. Doctors say symptoms can be alleviated with non-aspirin pain killers and fever medication as well as rest and fluids.
Ferguson said his ministry, working closely with the Pan American Health Organisation, had been preparing for the disease for over two years because of the recognition that it was only a matter of time before it entered the country. The first recorded outbreak of chikungunya was in East Africa in the early 1950s. The disease has spread rapidly in recent years.
The health minister emphasised that while the authorities had moved to ensure anti-mosquito operations such as fogging, people had to take personal pro-active responsibility to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in and around the home. There had been a consistent public education campaign to that end, he said.
"In relation to homes and places (where people gather)... make every effort to deal with any kind of possible breeding sites," said Ferguson.
He urged Comrades to punch holes in discarded tins and containers "so they don't collect water, get rid of tyres around the homes and elsewhere, cover containers because open containers and still water become breeding sites for mosquitoes."
The minister said people who fall ill with flu-like symptoms such as fever and muscular or joint pains should make every effort to see a doctor or visit a health centre or hospital.
He warned against the use of aspirin to deal with symptoms since it could make the situation worse and "induce bleeding".
Regarding the deadly Ebola virus now sweeping West Africa, Ferguson warned that no one should be thinking of visiting that area of the world unless it was absolutely essential.Comment
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The minister is either lying or doesn't know the facts. It's out of control.Originally posted by Tropicana View PostLiar liar pants on fire!
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The topic starter is either lying or does not know the facts.Comment
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My grandmother have the virus, and one of my x girlfriend she had the virus. She went the doctor and all they gave her is an injection on her butt to ease the pain . I was on the phone with her and she told me after the nurse injection her body feel numb for two days. Virus is originated from south America.Last edited by SKYJUICE221; 09-20-2014, 11:14 PM.Comment
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You don't know the facts. I have it! I still have the rash as well as the joint and muscle pains. Children whom I teach have it. A large number of them have stayed home. Manning cup football teams are decimated by it. Everyone in my household has had it and it not Dengue or Measles!Originally posted by Tropicana View PostComment
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So based on the experience of one family you know more than the Minister of Health?Comment
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Let's clear up that misinformation about chikungunya
BY DR FENTON FERGUSON
I am happy that we have been having robust discussion in Jamaica about chikungunya because it speaks to a high level of awareness of our citizens.I am however concerned about the misinformation that has been circulating and the political football that it has become. The Ministry's response to chikungunya and other public health issues is in keeping with the guidelines of the World Health Organization which is the international body put in place by governments worldwide to set standards and policies for public health response. The Ministry of Health is the authority for all matters related to public health and has trained experts in this highly specialised area for which we cannot depend on anecdotes and opinions. We have to respond to facts and evidence.
We are guided by the response strategy developed since 2012 in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control, the French Government and 22 Caribbean countries. We have been implementing the Caribbean Sub-regional Plan that countries developed to respond to chikungunya and dengue.
The ministry confirmed its first imported case of chikungunya on July 17, 2014. At that time the Emergency Operations Centre, which is essentially the command centre, was activated and continues to operate. The centre provides national leadership to the response and management and oversight for activities that are being undertaken islandwide. Persons can make reports, requests and get information by calling us at 922-8619; 922-8622 and 1-888-663-5683 (1-888-ONE-LOVE), Monday to Friday. They can also report cases to their parish health departments.
Up to the week ending September 6, 2014 we reviewed 225 notifications of which 120 met the case definition which means that they had the appropriate symptoms and have been deemed suspected cases of chikungunya. Of the 120 suspected cases, 22 tested negative and have been discarded, 24 are laboratory-confirmed, 47 are linked to lab-confirmed cases and the others remain suspected cases. Let me point out that international surveillance best practice dictates that we do not test every case. If we already have established spread in a community, there is no need to test all community members.
This is the time of year when we experience increased cases of dengue fever and influenza. In order to have a clear picture of the viruses circulating, I am urging doctors to ensure that they rule out these illnesses and others such as leptospirosis which have similar symptoms. We also need them to report cases they believe to be chikungunya, otherwise those will not be represented in our figures.
I applaud the health team which has been working systematically and non-stop since chikungunya was introduced in Jamaica in July. We have done a number of community and house-to-house activities since then and we have had meetings with several stakeholders, including the Central Health Committee which is the advisory body to the minister,, the Quarantine Authority to deal with the points of entry; the International Health Regulations National Focal Point Stakeholder Advisory Group the ministry of Education; and our own technical team. I had dialogue with the Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr Ken Baugh on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, prior to the JLP press conference on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. During this meeting, which also involved the Acting Permanent Secretary Dr Kevin Harvey and the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, we discussed in depth the ministry's strategies, current activities and plans in response to the outbreak of chikungunya in five parishes.
I was therefore surprised to hear that he was calling on the Ministry to do the very same things that we had indicated that we were already doing. I urge Dr Baugh and other politicians to recognise that reducing the spread of chikungunya requires a concerted effort and partnership from every sector of the society. We cannot allow political considerations to get in the way of managing public health. This is a serious matter.
I have to emphasise that it is up to each of us to ensure that we do not create the environment for mosquitoes to breed especially since the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which transmits chikungunya and dengue, breeds in containers around where people gather -- the home, school, business places and places of worship. Gullies, drains and other waterways provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes, but not typically the type that spreads chikungunya and dengue. I am calling on every Jamaican to stand firm with the Ministry of Health and let us take a day to clean up our communities, business places, schools and churches as we would for Labour Day. Let us work together to reduce the spread of chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases and restore national pride.Comment
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Stop Going Berserk Over Chikungunya
Allow me to try to clarify this chikungunya situation, as it seems to me that many persons do not understand how the figures are represented.If we look at how the figures for every Caribbean country are quoted, laboratory and suspected cases are separated. When the ministry says there are 24 lab-confirmed cases, this simply means that of the number of samples sent to the lab for testing, 24 came back positive for chikungunya. It does not mean that there are only 24 cases of the disease in Jamaica.
It is clear to me that there are more than 24 cases of chikungunya in Jamaica, but it also seems that every fever or joint pain is now considered chikungunya. Dengue, flu and the range of other viral illnesses that cause similar symptoms seem to not exist in Jamaica right now. Chikungunya rules!
UNNECESSARY TEST
It would be foolhardy and, indeed, expensive for the Ministry of Health to test everyone with symptoms, as that is simply not necessary.
If I have chikungunya, and my family members experience the same symptoms, I personally would not pay to test all of us. It would make no sense - financial and otherwise. While I think, perhaps, the ministry can also report the number of suspected cases, I do believe this business of numbers is clouding what should be the real concern. Jamaicans need to take responsibility for their health.
The Government should not have to come to your home to turn over a container breeding mosquitoes. If you know that you can get a virus from a mosquito, why would you not do everything you can to prevent being bitten?
You should also have enough pride to not throw garbage around where you eat and drink, and, by doing this, inviting even more dangerous rodents and insects into your surroundings. People need to focus less on the numbers and start acting more responsibly.Comment
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The minister of health down there in Jamaica is a bunch of cartoon characters. If they don't know the facts because they don't rely on hospital data to have idea about the facts. My niece is a nurse at the hospital she did of work over time because of the amount of patients waiting to see the doctor due virus. She say sleep a kill har. Poor ting. LolOriginally posted by Tropicana View PostComment
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Last week the ministry confirmed more than 200. Then pulled it. But the hospitals are full...based on the check..not including those they treat based on familial diagnosis.... And they admitted that there was more cases of people not going in....various doctors estimated more than 1000...it is moving westward across the island...and yes I believe these two so called anecdotal report....Originally posted by Leddih View Post
This is like the denial of Ebola in west Africa.. Denial before the crisis over whems...
So what skyj and Lediah say is in line with what the ministry is saying here...it is a crisis....
And given the similarly of vector and symptoms to dengue, only the test can confirm..it is only a !after of weeks before this starts affecting tourism numbers....
Jamaican masquita still bad ***...
But I was caught by surprise...they now give the same advise for stagnation water except they don't tell u to put kerosene on tanks like they use to....Last edited by Wahalla; 09-21-2014, 01:54 PM.Comment
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Here is a previous conversation with my niece at a Kingston public hospital . She is a nurse, and she too just get infected. Now tell if this is not serious people.
If all the doctors and the nurses get infected, who supposed to take care of those in the hospital that are infected with chikungunya virus?
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Screenshot_2014-09-21-14-08-11-1.jpgLast edited by SKYJUICE221; 09-21-2014, 02:45 PM.Comment
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I put no weight on personal experience for determining national statistics. When the Ministry of Healthy issues statistics that show an epidemic, then and only then will I believe it.Comment
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