WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGY BULLETIN - Ministry of Health
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Week ending April 17, 2021 Epidemiological Week 15
WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGY BULLETIN
NATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY UNIT, MINISTRY OF HEALTH & WELLNESS, JAMAICA
EPI WEEK 15
Biological Weapons: Series 9 of 10: Botulism SYNDROMES
Overview: Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves. PAGE 2
Symptoms of botulism usually start with weakness of the muscles that control the eyes, face, mouth,
and throat. This weakness may spread to the neck, arms, torso, and legs. Botulism also can weaken
the muscles involved in breathing, which can lead to difficulty breathing and even death.
CLASS 1 DISEASES
About Botulism: Botulism (“BOT-choo-liz-um”) is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that
attacks the body’s nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death. This toxin PAGE 4
is made by Clostridium botulinum and sometimes Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium baratii
bacteria. These bacteria can be spread by food and sometimes by other means. The bacteria that
make botulinum toxin are found naturally in many places, but it’s rare for them to make people sick.
These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings. Spores help the bacteria survive in the
environment, even in extreme conditions. The spores usually do not cause people to become sick,
even when they’re eaten. But under certain conditions, these spores can grow and make one of the
most lethal toxins known. The conditions in which the spores can grow and make toxin are: 1. Low-
oxygen or no oxygen (anaerobic) environment. 2. Low acidLow sugar. 3. Low salt. 4. A certain INFLUENZA
temperature range. 5. A certain amount of water.
PAGE 5
Types of Botulism: The five main kinds of botulism are: 1. Foodborne botulism can happen by eating
foods that have been contaminated with botulinum toxin. Common sources of foodborne botulism
are homemade foods that have been improperly canned, preserved, or fermented. Though
uncommon, store-bought foods also can be contaminated with botulinum toxin. 2. Wound botulism
can happen if the spores of the bacteria get into a wound and make a toxin. People who inject drugs
have a greater chance of getting wound botulism. Wound botulism has also occurred in people after DENGUE FEVER
a traumatic injury, such as a motorcycle accident, or surgery. 3. Infant botulism can happen if the
spores of the bacteria get into an infant’s intestines. The spores grow and produce the toxin which
PAGE 6
causes illness. 4. Adult intestinal toxemia (also known as adult intestinal colonization) botulism is a
very rare kind of botulism that can happen if the spores of the bacteria get into an adult’s intestines,
grow, and produce the toxin (similar to infant botulism). Although we don’t know why people get this
kind of botulism, people who have serious health conditions that affect the gut may be more likely to
get sick. 5. Iatrogenic botulism can happen if too much botulinum toxin is injected for cosmetic
reasons, such as for wrinkles, or medical reasons, such as for migraine headaches.
GASTROENTERITIS
PAGE 7
RESEARCH PAPER
PAGE 8
https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/index.html
Released May 11, 2021 ISSN 0799-3927
SENTINEL SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE
Sentinel Surveillance in A syndromic surveillance system is good for early detection of and response to
Jamaica public health events.
Sentinel surveillance occurs when selected health facilities (sentinel sites) form a
network that reports on certain health conditions on a regular basis, for example,
weekly. Reporting is mandatory whether or not there are cases to report.
Jamaica’s sentinel surveillance system concentrates on visits to sentinel sites for
health events and syndromes of national importance which are reported weekly
(see pages 2 -4). There are seventy-eight (78) reporting sentinel sites (hospitals
and health centres) across Jamaica.
Map representing the
Timeliness of Weekly
Sentinel Surveillance
Parish Reports for the Four
Most Recent
Epidemiological Weeks –
12 2021 to 15 of 2021
Parish health departments
submit reports weekly by
3 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Reports submitted after 3
p.m. are considered late.
REPORTS FOR SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE
FEVER
Weekly Visits to Sentinel Sites for Undifferentiated Fever All ages: Jamaica,
Temperature of >380C Weekly Threshold vs Cases 2021
/100.40F (or recent history of 1400
fever) with or without an 1200
obvious diagnosis or focus of
Number of visits
1000
infection.
800
600
400
200
KEY 0
VARIATIONS OF BLUE 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
SHOW CURRENT WEEK Epidemiologic week
2021
Released May 11, 2021 ISSN 0799-3927
FEVER AND NEUROLOGICAL
Weekly Visits to Sentinel Sites for Fever and Neurological Symptoms 2020
Temperature of >380C
and 2021 vs. Weekly Threshold: Jamaica
/100.40F (or recent history of 40
fever) in a previously healthy 35
person with or without
30
headache and vomiting. The
Number of visits
person must also have 25
meningeal irritation, 20
convulsions, altered 15
consciousness, altered 10
sensory manifestations or
5
paralysis (except AFP).
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53
Epidemiologic week
2020 2021 Alert Threshold Epidemic Threshold
FEVER AND
Weekly visits to Sentinel Sites for Fever and Haemorrhagic 2020 and 2021 vs
HAEMORRHAGIC
Weekly Threshold; Jamaica
Temperature of >380C
8
/100.40F (or recent history of
7
fever) in a previously healthy
Number of visits
6
person presenting with at 5
least one haemorrhagic 4
(bleeding) manifestation with 3
or without jaundice. 2
1
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53
Epidemiologic week
2020 2021 Alert Threshold Epidemic Threshold
FEVER AND JAUNDICE Fever and Jaundice cases: Jamaica, Weekly Threshold vs Cases 2020 and
Temperature of >380C /100.40F
2021
(or recent history of fever) in a
8
previously healthy person
presenting with jaundice. 7
Number of visits
6
The epidemic threshold is used 5
to confirm the emergence of an 4
epidemic in order to implement
3
control measures. It is calculated
using the mean reported cases 2
per week plus 2 standard 1
deviations. 0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53
Epidemiologic Week
2020 2021 Alert Threshold Epidemic Threshold
3 NOTIFICATIONS- INVESTIGATION HOSPITAL SENTINEL
All clinical REPORTS- Detailed Follow ACTIVE REPORT- 78 sites.
sites up for all Class One Events SURVEILLANCE- Automatic reporting
30 sites. Actively
pursued
Released May 11, 2021 ISSN 0799-3927
ACCIDENTS Weekly visits to Sentinel Sites for Accidents by Age Group 2021 vs Weekly
Any injury for which the Threshold; Jamaica
cause is unintentional, e.g.
motor vehicle, falls, burns,
etc.
Number of Visits
KEY 500
VARIATIONS Of BLUE
SHOW CURRENT WEEK
50
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53
Epidemiological weeks
≥5 Cases 2021
Released May 11, 2021 ISSN 0799-3927
CLASS ONE NOTIFIABLE EVENTS Comments
Confirmed YTDα AFP Field Guides
CURRENT PREVIOUS from WHO indicate
CLASS 1 EVENTS that for an effective
YEAR 2021 YEAR 2020
surveillance system,
Accidental Poisoning 0β 37 detection rates for
AFP should be
NATIONAL /INTERNATIONAL
Cholera 0 0 1/100,000 population
See Dengue See Dengue under 15 years old (6
Dengue Hemorrhagic Feverγ to 7) cases annually.
page below page below
INTEREST
Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) 0 0 ___________
Pertussis-like
Hepatitis B 0 0 syndrome and Tetanus
Hepatitis C 0 0 are clinically
confirmed
HIV/AIDS NA NA classifications.
Malaria (Imported) 0 0 ______________
γ
Dengue
Meningitis (Clinically confirmed) 0 1 Hemorrhagic Fever
EXOTIC/ data include Dengue
UNUSUAL Plague 0 0
related deaths;
MORBIDITY/
MORTALITY
Meningococcal Meningitis 0 0
δ
Figures include all
H IGH
Neonatal Tetanus 0 0 deaths associated with
Typhoid Fever 0 0 pregnancy reported
for the period.
Meningitis H/Flu 0 0
AFP/Polio 0 0 ε
CHIKV IgM
Congenital Rubella Syndrome 0 0 positive cases
θ
Zika PCR positive
Congenital Syphilis 0 0
cases
SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
Fever and Measles 0 0 β
Updates made to
Rash
Rubella 0 0 prior weeks in 2020.
α
Maternal Deathsδ 7 12 Figures are
cumulative totals for
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 0 38 all epidemiological
Pertussis-like syndrome 0 0 weeks year to date.
Rheumatic Fever 0 0
Tetanus 0 0
Tuberculosis 0 12
Yellow Fever 0 0
ε
Chikungunya 0 0
Zika Virusθ 0 0 NA- Not Available
5 NOTIFICATIONS- INVESTIGATION HOSPITAL SENTINEL
All clinical REPORTS- Detailed Follow ACTIVE REPORT- 78 sites.
sites up for all Class One Events SURVEILLANCE- Automatic reporting
30 sites. Actively
pursuedReleased May 11, 2021 ISSN 0799-3927
NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT
INFLUENZA REPORT
EW 15
April 11, 2021 – April 17, 2021 Epidemiological Week 15
Weekly visits to Sentinel Sites for Influenza-like Illness (ILI) All
EW 15 YTD ages 2021 vs Weekly Threshold; Jamaica
SARI cases 2500
12 186
Number of visits
Total 2000
Influenza 1500
0 0
positive
1000
Samples
Influenza A 0 0 500
H3N2 0 0 0
H1N1pdm09 0 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
Not subtyped 0 0 Epidemiologic week
0 0 2021Released May 11, 2021 ISSN 0799-3927
Dengue Bulletin
April 11, 2020 – April 17, 2021 Epidemiological Week 15 Epidemiological Week 15
Dengue Cases by Year: 2004-2021, Jamaica
12000
Number of Cases
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Year
Total Suspected Confirmed DF
Reported suspected and confirmed dengue
with symptom onset in week 15 of 2021
2021*
EW 15 YTD
Total Suspected Dengue
0 15
Cases
Lab Confirmed Dengue
0 0
cases
CONFIRMED
0 0
Dengue Related Deaths
Suspected dengue cases for 2020 and 2021 versus
monthly mean, alert, and epidemic thresholds (2007-
600 2020)
500
Points to note:
Number of Cases
400
• *Figure as at April 16, 2021
300
• Only PCR positive dengue cases
are reported as confirmed.
200
• IgM positive cases are classified
as presumed dengue. 100
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month of onset
2020 2021 Epidemic threshold
Alert Threshold Monthly mean
7 NOTIFICATIONS- INVESTIGATION HOSPITAL SENTINEL
All clinical REPORTS- Detailed Follow ACTIVE REPORT- 78 sites.
sites up for all Class One Events SURVEILLANCE- Automatic reporting
30 sites. Actively
pursuedReleased May 11, 2021 ISSN 0799-3927
RESEARCH PAPER
ABSTRACT
Risk Factors Associated with Glaucoma and Cataract among Patients Attending an Eye Clinic in
Jamaica
Deborah Dietrich1, Kenneth James2, Donald Cameron-Swaby3, Paul Singh1, Marsha-Lyn McKoy1
1
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Pharmacology Section, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
2
Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
3
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
Corresponding Author: Deborah Dietrich; email: deborah.dietrich57@gmail.com
Objectives:
To determine association between demographic, medical and social variables and glaucoma and cataract in a
Jamaican patient population.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was done at the University Hospital of the West Indies Eye Clinic, where
data was extracted from 370 randomly selected files of patients who attended the clinic between January and
March 2017. Data extracted included demographic data and patient medical history. Ethical approval was
obtained from the UHWI/UWI/FMS Ethics Committee. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS
Statistics software. To determine association between variables, Chi-squared tests and Spearman’s
correlation analyses were done, pYou can also read
