Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie shared that members of health sector received training in testing for Monkeypox in the event of an outbreak. The training was in colloboration National Public Health Lab and the Pan-American Health Organization.

Jamaica can now test for monkeypox virus

18 Jun 2022

JAMAICA NOW has the capacity to conduct testing for the monkeypox virus following training in laboratory detection and diagnosis of the viral condition arranged by the National Public Health Lab in collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).

In a release yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie said the workshop is part of the public health system’s preparedness and response activities in the case of an outbreak.

“This hands-on training equips our public health team to ensure the timely detection of any suspected cases,” Bisasor-McKenzie highlighted.

“Human monkeypox virus, if found in Jamaica, would be considered an exotic or unusual communicable disease and should, therefore, be reported as a Class 1 notifiable disease. Healthcare workers (public and private) must report cases immediately on suspicion to the respective parish health department and the National Surveillance Unit,” Bisasor-McKenzie was quoted as saying.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease spread primarily through animals. While person-to-person spread is uncommon, it may occur through direct contact with an infected individual. Infection typically results in symptoms including fever, back and muscle pain, the formation of lesions and skin rashes.

No confirmed cases of the disease has been detected in the island so far.

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