Health Ministry steps up food and water quality checks, vector control

 

With stagnant water now pooling across hurricane-battered communities, the Ministry of Health and Wellness says it's ramping up food and water quality checks, as well as vector control efforts.

 

This comes as Hurricane Melissa has disrupted water and power supply which has created perfect breeding conditions for disease-carrying and nuisance mosquitoes.

 

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said the ministry must now ensure a comprehensive response mechanism is implemented to effectively mitigate fallout from the hurricane, particularly in the five hardest hit parishes across southern and western Jamaica. 

 

"I'm really focusing right now on the vector management and the public health inspections that are taking place of food establishments, water quality, solid waste management and, of course, the mosquitoes. But we have to now transition somewhat from the immediate aftermath of the hurricane and the saving of lives, you know, search and rescue with JDF and others [to] setting back up our Accident and Emergency ward so that they can function so ongoing trauma cases can be dealt with, then mapping our health centres to try and restore some level of support into communities. But we need now to be very mindful of mosquitoes, of food that is spoiled, that may find its way into the chain and people may consume, unexpectedly so, and the impact that that will have," said the Health Minister.

 

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie said food preparation and water quality are of great concern at this time. She noted that water being distributed by trucks must be boiled to ensure it is fit for drinking. 

 

"We are also distributing chlorine tablets. Food preparation is very important because especially when you're making food for other persons, and the transportation of food from one place to the next, you know, in conditions that are not going to be able to maintain the temperatures that the food is required to be kept at, can lead to spoilage and this can lead to gastrointestinal conditions," she warned. 

 

"We have to be careful of expired foods, especially those that are in tins and those that are in bags. Because if they're in tins, then there can be bacteria, toxins in there in particular that can cause severe issues, health issues. If they're passed the date and then if they're in bags and stuff, what you tend to get is a lot of mould," the CMO explained.

 

She said the ministry is closely monitoring suspected cases of leptospirosis.

 

"We have some suspected cases of leptospirosis and this always tends to happen at this time of the year and especially worse now because there's a lot of water on the ground, and so persons have to make sure they're wearing protective things on their feet when they're going out into that water because they're going to get infected with leptospirosis. The cases have not been confirmed, but the fact is that we treat, assuming of course that the case is positive, and we administer the treatment that is necessary."

 

She cautioned that the illness could become very severe and lead to death if left untreated for too long. 

 

Leptospirosis is spread in the urine of infected animals. The risk of spread is often increased after a hurricane or flood when people make contact with contaminated water or soil.

 

In the meantime, Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie said a rise in the mosquito population is expected in the coming weeks.

 

"Coming up to this part of the year, we have been really having very low vector indices, to say that we were not fearing of going into any outbreak. Now that we've had this tremendous amount of rain, many of the breeding sites would have been kind of washed out. Persons are seeing mosquitoes now, but in another two to three weeks when the breeding sites, the eggs that are there...they will be adult mosquitoes that are around in another two to three weeks," she outlined.

 

She said the Vector Control Team has been expanded with the addition of 300 workers to bolster vector eradication efforts.