2023 dengue outbreak in Jamaica explained

Disease:Dengue fever
Virus Strain:Dengue virus
Location:Jamaica
Date:2023
Confirmed Cases:3,147

In the 2023 dengue outbreak in Jamaica, a significant rise in the number of dengue fever cases was reported in Jamaica. In September 2023 The Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica declared it as an outbreak.[1] The Guardian reported that the outbreak was influenced by the heat as summer of 2023 was recorded as the highest temperature in 100,000 years.[2]

Outbreak

The outbreak peaked at around September with over 500 cases across the island. Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica announced a programme of around $200 million to curb the spread of virus at schools, households and communities.[3] It was declared as outbreak by Health ministry in September citing that virus surpassed the epidemic threshold for July and August and was heading towards same for September. The number of confirmed cases as reported by health ministry were 3,147 with nine deaths, as of November 2023.[4]

Statistics

Status (as of November 2023)
Number of cases3,147
Number of deaths9

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jamaica declares dengue outbreak . . 5 December 2023 . 26 September 2023.
  2. News: oldGeorgiana Gordon-Strachan . Jamaica's dengue fever outbreak shows the deadly effects of record heat . . 15 November 2023 . 13 January 2024.
  3. Web site: Holness announces 200-m programme to tackle dengue outbreak . Jamaica Observer . 5 December 2023 . 10 October 2023.
  4. Web site: Georgiana . Gordon-Strachan . Jamaica's dengue fever outbreak shows the deadly effects of record heat . . 5 December 2023 . 15 November 2023.