Jamaican authorities report rise in suspected leptospirosis cases

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Health authorities in Jamaica reported that following Hurricane Melissa, six people have died from leptospirosis, a disease that is often spread by rodent urine in contaminated water after storms. teleSUR These and many other stories now! 🌐Join teleSUR's community and be part of a space where your ideas matter.  https://chat.whatsapp.com/KLABTE41aSj3ioYabXQQ6K 🗣 Don't be left behind, join teleSUR's Channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va98Z437Noa2tjytCt1N Web💬 https://www.telesurenglish.net/ X🧶 https://twitter.com/telesurenglish Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/telesurenglish/?hl=es Facebook 📱 https://www.facebook.com/teleSUREnglishOfficial Youtube ⏯ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuTmpLY35O3csvhyA6vrkg Tiktok👌🏼 https://www.tiktok.com/@telesurenglish?_t=8hMLCY0a6z7&_r=1

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00:00And Jamaica tackles post-hurricane leptospirosis outbreak as cases on death rise in key parishes.

00:07From Barbados, our correspondent Crystal Hoyer brings us more details.

00:11Jamaica's Ministry of Health is urging increased caution following a continued rise in leptospirosis cases

00:18after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

00:22Flooding has heightened contact with rodent contaminated water

00:25and officials now confirm 71 suspected, probable or confirmed cases.

00:32The Ministry has also verified 12 leptospirosis-related deaths, seven of which are laboratory confirmed.

00:41At a national press briefing, National Epidemiologist Dr. Karen Webster-Kurr outlined the latest figures

00:48and said transmission rates remain highest in St. James, St. Anne and St. Elizabeth.

00:54Most affected persons are persons 20 to 29 and those 60 years and over.

01:03The deaths are all males, and males predominate with the cases and deaths,

01:09particularly in persons 20 to 29, followed by persons 60 years and older.

01:16This is a spread of cases of leptospirosis post-hurricane, as would have been in the table prior.

01:26While health officials warn that flood-impacted communities should stay vigilant,

01:31they stress that the outbreak is being actively managed.

01:35Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton says

01:38The Ministry is intensifying water testing, sanitation checks and community outreach in high-risk areas.

01:45We have been managing the leptospirosis outbreak.

01:51We are mindful that that can easily be understood as panic, and we would like to discourage that.

01:59And sometimes the headlines does project a sense of the need to panic.

02:05This is not what our intentions are.

02:08We are also mindful that we are a country that has an obligation to both the local population,

02:14but also, importantly, in a big tourism space, we also have an obligation to our visitors and tourism interests.

02:27As recovery from Hurricane Melissa continues, authorities say quick medical attention

02:33and limiting exposure to contaminated water remain key to reducing further infections.

02:40Crystal Hoyt, Telusir, Barbados.

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