How is Zikavirus spread?In Jamaica, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the only mosquito that can spread the zika virus. If the mosquito bites someone who is infected with ZIKV, the mosquito becomes a carrier of the virus and infects anyone it bites.This...
There has been an increase in the use of insect repellents due to the threat of viral infections transmitted by mosquitoes. Here are some guidelines derived from www.emedecinehealth.com regarding the different types of insect repellents.1. DEET is...
There is a lot of talk about the Zika virus, with grave concern being placed on its effect on pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and unborn babies. The World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared it a global health emergency.There is still a lot to...
Lifespan is the only spring water in Jamaica that is Naturally Alkaline. The only Natural Alkaline Spring water in Jamaica and the Caribbean with a minimum pH of 7.9. Lifespan’s source is from the Northern slopes of the Blue Mountains where...
Continuing from the article last week - 'There is still hope for infertility' - today, we look at how to know if you have a problem with fertility.HOW DO YOU KNOW?So how will you know if you have a fertility problem? Infertility is a problem that...
Zika Virus (ZIKV) has been identified in 20 countries in the Americas, including four Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Member States (CMS) to date. Given the existence of the competent vector Aedes aegypti in most countries in the region,...
John* had given up all hope of ever being able to perform sexually again. At 53 years old, with chronic diabetes, for over five years, he had tried everything to help with his erectile dysfunction (ED), and within the last year and a half, nothing...
The zika virus (ZIKV) is found in a specific kind of mosquito, the Aedes aegypti, but any mosquito can pick it up and transmit it if it bites an infected person. It can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, birth and sex.n One...
Infertility is something that affects a couple. However, I have noticed that many women come to my office complaining of being infertile... and they show up alone. It is a very sensitive issue for both genders, but women, for years, have borne the...
We continue our series on skin issues affecting teenagers with a look at facial skincare tips for teens.There are many skin changes occurring during teenage years. For example, increased hormone levels during this phase usually cause the skin's oil...
According to a study in Spain, when mothers eat three sizable servings of fish each week during pregnancy it may benefit children's brains for years to come.Researchers followed nearly 2,000 mother-child pairs from the first trimester of pregnancy...
In a promising development for cancer patients in the Caribbean region, North Shore Medical Center is the first hospital in Miami to install the Edge(tm) system for high-precision radiosurgery. This new technology gives patients a non-invasive...
Published:Monday | January 11, 2016 | 12:00 AMDr Alfred Dawes
In 1847, Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician working in Austria, made an outrageous declaration. New mothers were dying of fever, not because they were victims of sin, but rather they were getting infections from doctors performing autopsies and...
You have cancer. To say you're feeling completely outside of any comfort zone you've ever known is likely a great understatement. Much of your emotions are perhaps hard to explain and, unless you've been...
As of the recent update, the Zika virus (ZIKV) is now in 14 countries - Brazil, Colombia, Chile (Eastern Island), El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico.On the...
The Ministry of Health has increased its surveillance for cases of Influenza A (H1N1), in light of the outbreak of the virus in other parts of the Caribbean."There are no reports of the H1N1 virus in Jamaica; however, with frequent travel, we are on...
I have noticed that while we are mostly concerned with diagnosis and treatment in medical discussions regarding breast cancer, not much interest is placed on what happens after treatment.For many women, breast cancer...
The zika virus, which is transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is now spreading across Latin America and the Caribbean region. Eliminating the mosquito breeding sites is critical to stemming the spread of the virus, which is especially...
The traditional colours for Christmas decorations are red and green. The highlight of a typical Jamaican Christmas meal is Red and Black. What would a Jamaican meal look like on Christmas day without our traditional sorrel drink and fruit...
For many people across the world, Christmas means reuniting with family, friends and loved ones to share stories and eat till 'belly buss'. Are you really planning to defeat the New Year's resolution that was made 11 months ago to lose weight and...
As the festive season kicks into high gear, being mindful of not overdoing anything and protecting your health and well-being for the new year should be a top priority. One often overlooked area for concern is safeguarding and ensuring our hearing....
Published:Monday | December 7, 2015 | 12:00 AMDr Alfred Dawes
The regrettable occurrences that have propelled the discussion on health-care reform to the forefront of the nation's conscience must not have been in vain. We as a country with ambitions of achieving first-world status cannot afford to not have a...
Due to the spread of zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil, a ministry health official has advised women to avoid getting pregnant.The mosquito-borne ZIKV has resulted in 646 reported cases in the state of Pernambuco, a region where a state of emergency has...
ZIKV FACTS:Ways to reduce mosquito breedingThe zika virus poses a serious threat to Jamaica as it continues to spread across Latin America and the Caribbean. Now an epidemic in nine countries - Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico...
Two years ago, the Jamaican Government and then Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson made a bold move and banned smoking in public spaces. This move was followed by many of our fellow Caribbean nations, including Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.This...
