UPDATE: Health Ministry intensifies measures against zika virus
Published:Friday | March 18, 2016 | 5:23 PM
The Health Ministry says it has ramped up its fight against the zika virus in three communities following the confirmation of three new cases of the virus in Jamaica.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, the ministry said the new cases were detected in Greater Portmore and Christian Pen in St. Catherine and one in Lyssons St. Thomas.
Two of the positive tests were returned by the newly opened testing laboratory at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
The three new cases bring to four the total number of confirmed zika infections on the island.
The ministry says it will be deploying additional resources to the affected communities, including vector control workers, equipment and supplies to enhance surveillance and public awareness.
The ministry also says it has started a fogging blitz in the affected communities.
It says this means that fogging will take place for three consecutive nights for three weeks to eradicate adult aedes aegypti mosquitoes which spread, Zika, dengue and chikungunya.
The ministry also says it will actively investigate and detect other cases that might be present.