By Joanne Clark
(Source: CNW)
Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has confirmed an increase in leptospirosis cases and related deaths as Jamaica continues to grapple with public-health challenges following Hurricane Melissa.
Speaking at a special press conference at Jamaica House on Wednesday, November 26, Tufton reported 11 deaths linked to the disease as of November 22, including three from confirmed cases. He said there are now 91 suspected or probable cases of leptospirosis, with 10 confirmed through laboratory testing.
Tufton emphasized that the ministry is intensifying efforts to reduce exposure and curb transmission in communities affected by the October 28 hurricane. Environmental health teams remain active in the field, and the ministry is working with partners on solid waste management, vector control, PCR rapid testing, additional personnel, and expanded public education.
He stressed that the Government’s immediate public-health response after the storm has been effective so far, even as assessments continue across the hardest-hit western parishes. Emergency services were activated immediately after the hurricane, with field hospitals expanded to support damaged facilities. Two field hospitals have already been established, and a third is expected to be operational by this weekend, the latest being set up at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland.
According to Tufton, 101 health centres across western Jamaica sustained damage during the storm, with about 25 listed as extensively or severely affected. Jamaica has approximately 325 health centres nationwide. Technical teams are still conducting detailed evaluations to determine the scale of repairs needed, while efforts are under way to restore primary healthcare services even where buildings remain compromised.
“We have attempted to restore services, if not the infrastructure,” Tufton said, noting that many healthcare workers also suffered personal losses during the hurricane. He said the ministry has been supporting staff as they return to duty.
Responding to public concerns about sanitation and environmental risks in the aftermath of Melissa, Tufton said he understands the anxiety being expressed. “We are very sensitive to the concerns that have been raised… We listen, we assess, and we will respond,” he said.
Tufton added that the ministry anticipated many of the current public-health risks and prepared accordingly. “It is not genius to predict it because the historical data support it. What is important is that we prepare for it and confront it,” he said.
He assured the country that he remains confident in the approach taken, noting that health teams continue to manage the outbreak and broader post-hurricane conditions.