Haitian man who arrived with group in Portland tested positive for malaria

 

One of the 42 Haitians who landed in Long Bay, Portland on May 18 and were returned on May 20, tested positive for malaria. 

 

This was disclosed by the Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis, at Thursday's monthly meeting of the Portland Municipal Corporation. 

 

Dr. Lewis said the Haitians were processed at Port Antonio Hospital where health checks were conducted.

 

She said the positive result for malaria in an adult male was returned two days after he was repatriated.

 

Dr. Lewis said the man displayed no symptoms of the virus.

 

"I wish to use this opportunity to remind the public that malaria in a person from a country where the disease is endemic often presents with mild symptoms and, as in the case of that man, it may present with no symptoms."

 

She issued a warning to the public about harbouring illegal migrants. 

 

"That is why we warn our citizens to alert the police and the health team when persons who are not Jamaicans arrive by boat on our shores without going through the official ports. These persons should be assessed immediately after their arrival so that they can take the necessary public health measures to protect our citizens from the possible introduction or reintroduction of infectious diseases to our country," she urged. 

 

Dr. Lewis said the vector control team promptly destroyed the boat in which the Haitians arrived and conducted fogging of the landing area to reduce the spread of any other viral diseases that members of the group may have had.