Tufton issues flu alert

With a significant increase in the number of cases of fever and respiratory illnesses, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton yesterday put the country on alert for influenza.

In a statement to the House of Representatives, Tufton said that data collected from across the country over the past two weeks signal an early warning for an influenza increase.

Parishes with increasing trends since 2019, according to Tufton, include Kingston, St Andrew, Trelawny, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth and Portland.

The health minister cautioned that flu should be taken seriously, as it could lead to pneumonia and blood infections, and cause diarrhoea and seizures in children. “The flu can also worsen chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease,” he added.

Tufton pointed out that persons at greater risk of dangerous complications from the flu are infants and young children, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, and persons with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems.

Read more in the Health Section.