Dr. Winston De La Haye, Chief Medical Officer in the Health Ministry - file photo
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Dr. Winston De La Haye, speaking on Hotline with host, Emily Shields
The number of Guillian-Barré syndrome (GBS) related deaths in Jamaica has increased to six.
The figure was provided on Friday by Dr. Winston De La Haye, Chief Medical Officer, on RJR's Hotline programme.
Dr. De La Haye said, of the six deaths, two results came back negative for the Zika virus, while the other samples have not yet been received. He said the ministry is now awaiting pathology reports.
GBS, a neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks a part of the nervous system, causes paralysis.
Concern has been raised about GBS, which has been linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
Public education
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health’s National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has increased its capacity to field questions concerning Zika, especially for pregnant women, by providing two additional numbers that the public can access.
As of Friday, the public will be able to call the numbers, from Mondays to Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and ask questions about the mosquito-borne virus.
The numbers are 537-1709 and 536-9125.
The initiative by the National Emergency Operation Centre forms part of the Ministry of Health’s Zika public education campaign.
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