Western Jamaica on heightened alert for “pink eye”
With an upsurge in cases of conjunctivitis also known as pink eye in sections of western Jamaica the Ministry of Health says health centres are able to handle the increased patient load.
St James and Trelawny are experiencing a rise in cases – in just one week, health workers in St James have seen 150 cases of pink eye.
As a result, the Ministry of Health has heightened the alert in western Jamaica for an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis.
According to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Winston De La Haye – the virus is spreading.
“We’re ready and able to manage any case in the clinics. In fact it is t he best way of ensuring that you get adequate care and at that point it will be reiterated what should be done to prevent the spread to others.”
He said the Ministry of Health says it will continue its public education programme to reduce the spread of the virus.
De La Haye told RJR News that there is adequate medication to treat persons with pink eye and also urged persons to play their part in preventing the spread of the virus.