No results yet on sample sent to Trinidad for cholera testing
Published:Tuesday | June 20, 2017 | 6:23 PM
The country will have to wait a while longer for confirmation that a patient who displayed symptoms similar to the dreaded Cholera does not have the disease.
The Ministry of Health says it’s still awaiting results from a stool sample sent for testing to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad.
The results were expected today.
However, the ministry says the long holiday weekend in Trinidad and the effects of Tropical Storm Bret on the country have resulted in delays in receiving the results.
However, the Ministry has reiterated that based on the patient’s presentation, this bacteria is not consistent with the Vibrio cholerae specie associated with cholera.
It says the patient does not have diarrhoea and the contacts of that patient report no symptoms suggestive of cholera.
In addition, the ministry says there is no increased reporting of gastroenteritis at its facilities.
The last known case of cholera in Jamaica occurred 150 years ago.