WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGY BULLETIN - Ministry of Health and Wellness
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Week ending May 28, 2022 Epidemiological Week 21
WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGY BULLETIN
NATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY UNIT, MINISTRY OF HEALTH & WELLNESS, JAMAICA
EPI WEEK 21
SYNDROMES
Safer food, better health
PAGE 2
Safe, nutritious and diverse food in childhood is one of the key ingredients to
deliver a world where children are free from all forms of malnutrition. Children
under five years of age bear 40 percent of the foodborne disease burden and are at
a higher risk of malnutrition and mortality due to unsafe food; 149 million have
short height for their age; 45 million have low weight for their height. CLASS 1 DISEASES
PAGE 4
When food is not safe, nutritional goals cannot be achieved. Food safety
contributes to healthy growth and development in children. Therefore, schools,
daycare centres and other facilities are important settings to promote food safety.
Schools should promote food safety in the cafeteria as part of their health
programmes and start developing a food safety culture for students at a young
age, helping to create a new generation of healthy consumers.
INFLUENZA
Although distribution modalities of school meals may vary ‒ from canteens with
hot or cold meals prepared in a kitchen onsite managed by the school staff or PAGE 5
external catering company to canteens managed by parents or limited meal
service or snacks ‒ the handling process of food served in schools and daycare
centres must comply with food safety requirements.
One in ten people worldwide fall ill from eating contaminated food each year.
Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children under five and poor populations, DENGUE FEVER
are the most exposed and at greatest risk of foodborne disease. Unsafe food not
only adversely affects people's health and well-being, it also has negative PAGE 6
economic consequences for individuals and businesses. Unsafe food costs low-
and middle-income countries USD 110 billion each year in productivity and
medical expenses. Unsafe food decreases work attendance and earning potential;
healthy people can be more productive. Whether in a cafeteria setting or prepared
at home, safe food is crucial for everyone who eats in the workplace. When food
safety is made a priority, employees are healthier and can achieve their potential. GASTROENTERITIS
PAGE 7
RESEARCH PAPER
PAGE 8
Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/03-06-2022-why-mental-health-is-a-priority-for-action-on-climate-
change
Released June 13, 2022 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.
Table showcasing the
Kingston and Saint
Timeliness of Weekly
Saint Catherine
Westmoreland
Saint Elizabeth
Saint Thomas
Epi week
Manchester
Saint James
Saint Mary
Clarendon
Saint Ann
Trelawny
Sentinel Surveillance
Portland
Hanover
Andrew
Parish Reports for the Four
Most Recent
Epidemiological Weeks –
18 to 21 of 2022 2022
Parish health departments
submit reports weekly by On On On On On On On On On On On On On
18 Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time
3 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Reports submitted after 3
On Late On On On On On On On Late On Late Late
p.m. are considered late. 19 Time (T) Time Time Time Time Time Time Time (T) Time (T) (W)
KEY: On On On Late On On Late On On On On On On
Yellow- late submission on 20 Time Time Time (T) Time Time (T) Time Time Time Time Time Time
Tuesday
Red – late submission after On On On On On On On On On On On On On
Tuesday 21 Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time Time
REPORTS FOR SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE
FEVER
Number of visits for Undifferentiated Fever 380C 900
/100.40F (or recent history of 800
fever) with or without an 700
Number of visits
obvious diagnosis or focus of 600
infection. 500
400
300
200
100
0
KEY 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
VARIATIONS OF BLUE Epidemiologic week
SHOW CURRENT WEEK
2021
Released June 13, 2022 ISSN 0799-3927
FEVER AND NEUROLOGICAL
Weekly Visits to Sentinel Sites for Fever and Neurological Symptoms 2021
and 2022 vs. Weekly Threshold: Jamaica
Temperature of >380C
/100.40F (or recent history of 40
fever) in a previously healthy 35
person with or without 30
Number of visits
headache and vomiting. The 25
person must also have
20
meningeal irritation,
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
Epidemiologic week
2021 2022 Alert Threshold Epidemic Threshold
FEVER AND Weekly visits to Sentinel Sites for Fever and Haemorrhagic 2021 and 2022
HAEMORRHAGIC vs Weekly Threshold; Jamaica
8
Temperature of >380C 7
/100.40F (or recent history of
Number of visits
6
fever) in a previously healthy 5
person presenting with at 4
least one haemorrhagic
3
(bleeding) manifestation with
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
2021 2022 Alert Threshold Epidemic Threshold
FEVER AND JAUNDICE Fever and Jaundice cases: Jamaica, Weekly Threshold vs Cases 2021 and
2022
8
Temperature of >380C /100.40F
(or recent history of fever) in a 7
previously healthy person 6
presenting with jaundice.
Number of visits
5
The epidemic threshold is used 4
to confirm the emergence of an
epidemic in order to implement 3
control measures. It is calculated 2
using the mean reported cases
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
2021 2022 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 June 13, 2022 ISSN 0799-3927
ACCIDENTS Weekly Visits to Sentinel Sites for Accident by Age Group 2022 vs.
Weekly Threshold
Any injury for which the 1800
cause is unintentional, e.g. 1600
motor vehicle, falls, burns,
Number of Visits
1400
etc. 1200
KEY 1000
800
VARIATIONS Of BLUE
600
SHOW CURRENT WEEK
400
200
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
Epidemiological Week
≥5 y/o CasesReleased June 13, 2022 ISSN 0799-3927
CLASS ONE NOTIFIABLE EVENTS Comments
Confirmed YTDα AFP Field Guides from
CURRENT PREVIOUS WHO indicate that for
CLASS 1 EVENTS an effective
YEAR 2022 YEAR 2021
surveillance system,
Accidental Poisoning 81β 58β detection rates for AFP
should be 1/100,000
NATIONAL /INTERNATIONAL
Cholera 0 0
population under 15
See Dengue page
Dengue Hemorrhagic Feverγ below
See Dengue page below years old (6 to 7) cases
annually.
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) 40187 35303
INTEREST
___________
Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) 0 0
Pertussis-like
Hepatitis B 8 6 syndrome and Tetanus
Hepatitis C 2 4 are clinically
confirmed
HIV/AIDS NA NA classifications.
Malaria (Imported) 0 0 ______________
γ
Dengue Hemorrhagic
Meningitis (Clinically confirmed) 8 9
Fever data include
EXOTIC/ Dengue related deaths;
UNUSUAL
Plague 0 0
MORBIDITY/
MORTALITY
Meningococcal Meningitis 0 0 δ
Figures include all
H IGH
Neonatal Tetanus 0 0 deaths associated with
pregnancy reported for
Typhoid Fever 0 0 the period.
Meningitis H/Flu 0 0
ε
AFP/Polio 0 0 CHIKV IgM positive
cases
Congenital Rubella Syndrome 0 0 θ
Zika PCR positive
Congenital Syphilis 0 0 cases
SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
Fever and Measles 0 0 β
Updates made to
Rash prior weeks in 2020.
Rubella 0 0
α
Maternal Deathsδ 22 19 Figures are
cumulative totals for
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 48 40 all epidemiological
Pertussis-like syndrome 0 0 weeks year to date.
Rheumatic Fever 0 0
Tetanus 0 0
Tuberculosis 13 19
Yellow Fever 0 0
Chikungunyaε
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 June 13, 2022 ISSN 0799-3927
NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT
INFLUENZA REPORT
EW 21
May 22 - 28, 2022 Epidemiological Week 21
Weekly visits to Sentinel Sites for Influenza-like Illness (ILI) All ages
EW 21 YTD 2022 vs Weekly Threshold; Jamaica
2500
SARI cases 4 200
2000
Number of visits
Total Influenza
positive 0 0 1500
Samples
1000
Influenza A 0 0
H3N2 0 0 500
H1N1pdm09 0 0
0
Not subtyped 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 53
Influenza B 0 0 Epidemiologic week
Parainfluenza 0 0 2022Released June 13, 2022 ISSN 0799-3927
Dengue Bulletin
May 22 - 28, 2022 Epidemiological Week 21 Epidemiological Week 21
Dengue Cases by Year: 2004-2022, Jamaica
12000
10000
Number of cases
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Year
Total Suspected Confirmed DF
Reported suspected and confirmed dengue
with symptom onset in week 21 of 2022
2022*
EW 20 YTD
Total Suspected Dengue
0 9
Cases
Lab Confirmed Dengue
0 0
cases
CONFIRMED
0 0
Dengue Related Deaths
Suspected dengue cases for 2020, 2021 and 2022 versus
monthly mean, alert, and epidemic thresholds (2007-2021)
600
500
Points to note:
Number of Cases
400
*Figure as at May 24, 2022
Only PCR positive dengue cases 300
are reported as confirmed.
200
IgM positive cases are classified
as presumed dengue. 100
0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Month of onset
2020 2021 2022
Epidemic threshold Monthly Mean Alert Threshold.
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 June 13, 2022 ISSN 0799-3927
RESEARCH PAPER
Assessment of the gut microbiome composition of healthy undergraduate science students at the
University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
R.C. Grant1, P.D. Brown1, Y.D. Niu2
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona Jamaica,
2Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
Background: The gut microbiome is a diverse ecosystem with 1014 bacterial cells in symbiotic relationship
with their host and are essential in maintaining a healthy status. These bacteria have also been implicated in
diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and diabetes. The gut
microbiome is generally stable but can be affected by factors such as culture, diet, geography and
demographics.
Objectives: Consequently, this pilot study sought to assess the gut microbiome composition of healthy
undergraduate science students, ages 18 to 30, attending The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
with a view to leverage this understanding to promote students’ health.
Methods: After obtaining ethical approval, participants were asked to provide written consent and responses
to a questionnaire and a stool sample. Total DNA was extracted and purified from stool samples, PCR
amplified and sequenced.
Results: Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the most abundant phyla
observed, with Firmicutes in the highest proportion. Generally, the organisms in the proportions observed,
were indicative of a healthy status in the population of students sampled. However, higher proportion of
Firmicutes relative to Bacteroides are known to be associated with obesity and overweight, which have
significant risk for cardiovascular complications.
Conclusion: Comparisons such as body mass index, gender, area of residence, vaginal vs Caesarian section
birth, or whether vegetarian or not, did not show any significant differences in population diversity. Given
the current knowledge base, these assessments can assist in the improvement and maintenance of health and
wellness and are becoming important in preventive medicine.
________________________________________________________________________________
The Ministry of Health and Wellness
24-26 Grenada Crescent
Kingston 5, Jamaica
Tele: (876) 633-7924
Email: surveillance@moh.gov.jm
8 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
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