Stephanie Elliott, Gleaner Writer
IN THE wake of Clarendon reporting another suspected leptospirosis death earlier this week, health officials have warned that the disease could spread to the adjoining parishes of Manchester and Trelawny.
The total leptospirosis death toll for Clarendon stands at five.
"There has been an increase in the number of cases out of that parish, and we are also seeing suspected cases in Manchester, and at least one in Trelawny," Dr. Erica Hedmann, medical officer of health in the Surveillance unit of the Ministry of Health, said.
CASES QUADRUPLED
According to Vernal Webster, chief public health officer of the Clarendon Health Department, the suspected cases of leptospirosis disease have reportedly quadrupled in the parish of Clarendon.
According to Mr. Webster, although he has no concrete figures, he says the figures of sick persons with symptoms that suggest leptospirosis, continue to climb daily.
"The health department has embarked on an emergency garbage-cleaning campaign, as there are reports of serious pile-up in several communities across the parish," he said.
He identified the community of Sheckles as having a "severe case of this problem" and added that his department had been called in several times to remove garbage from that area.
He pointed out that other communities are experiencing similar problems because businesses in those areas do not have contractual agreements with the Metropolitan Parks and Markets who are having problems removing the garbage.
In the meantime, chief medical officer at the May Pen Hospital, Winston Dawes, confirmed that there have been five deaths as a result of the disease in the parish, with the last occurring on Saturday.
PROACTIVE
He said that the Clarendon Health Department and its parish council had been proactive as more persons were coming in for health checks.
Dr. Dawes refused to comment on rumours that several nurses at the May Pen Hospital, who had been exposed to the disease, had become infected and were being treated at the hospital. He only stated that he had "to respect other people's privacy".
In the meantime, checks with health officials in St. Mary revealed that there were still only a few suspected cases.
"The tests came back negative for three suspected cases in Port Maria, but a case in Annotto Bay is still being investigated," said San San Win, medical officer of health in the Ministry of Health in St. Mary.
"What is clear is that even though the tests came back negative, the treatment of the disease is similar to what is used to combat leptospirosis. We are doing inspections in several communities to inform people, but there is no outbreak at this time."
At least 14 people are suspected to have now died of the disease this year.
Additional reporting by Lisia Lynch and Gareth Davis.
