Health Ministry prepared to deal with Mpox threat

By Prince Moore 

   

Minister of Health & Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton says the country is prepared to deal with Mpox should cases of the disease be found in Jamaica.

 

Dr. Tufton met on Monday with the technical team from the ministry and the four regional health authorities to discuss the World Health Organization's declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.

 

This comes as the government heightens its preparedness for the possible re-introduction of Mpox into the country.

 

Dr. Tufton said the Emergency Management Committee of the ministry is alert and ready to coordinate a response to the disease. 

 

"I am satisfied that as a ministry, as a health authority, and by extension as a government, we are prepared and continue to prepare for cases that we anticipate will show itself in Jamaica. We are an open country, open borders, a lot of travel takes place and so we have to manage the process. In the next coming days we will provide the country with better details on what the precautions and the protocols are, but I'm comfortable that the team is fully alert and that we are taking the necessary steps," he sought to assure.    

 

The minister said Monday's meeting re-examined surveillance and case investigation for Mpox to rapidly identify cases, clusters, and the sources of infection as soon as possible.