The Health Ministry says confirmed samples of the Zika Virus in Jamaica are being sent to the Centre for Disease Control- CDC- in Puerto Rico, for second confirmation.
A fifth case of the Zika Virus was confirmed from among the 70 samples being tested at the University Virology Lab. This latest case is for a St Catherine resident.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Winston De La Haye says with the lab at the University of the West Indies now up and running, samples were being tested and results prepared, in almost real time.
Dr De La Haye also notes that the only backlog being experienced is with samples that were sent to Trinidad.
The Chief Medical Officer says the confirmed cases still need to be re-confirmed by the Centre for Disease Control- CDC- in Puerto Rico.
He says samples are sent off immediately upon confirmation.
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Chief Medical Officer Dr Winston De La Haye
He says the Health Ministry has stepped up the Vector Control Programme in the two parishes where the virus has been detected – St Thomas and St Catherine.
