by germainebull » 22 Nov 2025, 13:42
Jamaica is in the midst of a devastating storm after Hurricane Melissa devastated the country, and now health officials have confirmed an outbreak of leptospirosis. From October 30 to November 20, nine cases have been confirmed and 28 are suspected, with six deaths linked to the disease.
Hurricane Melissa was a Category 5 storm and dumped about 30 inches of rain, causing flooding and landslides. The stagnant, muddy water was a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria to spread. Leptospirosis is spread through water or soil contaminated with animal urine, especially rats.
Health Minister Christopher Tufton said the combination of flooding and dirty water has put many people at risk, especially farmers, emergency responders and those doing cleanup work. Symptoms can be flu-like, such as fever, headache and muscle aches, but without treatment, it can lead to kidney failure, liver damage, meningitis and internal bleeding.
The storm has wreaked havoc on the tourism and agriculture sectors, with officials saying losses could reach $10 billion and nearly 200,000 buildings affected. The government is urging people to avoid contaminated water and go to the hospital if they experience symptoms. Recovery has now become more difficult because there is an environmental and health crisis at the same time.
Source: anewz.tv
Jamaica is in the midst of a devastating storm after Hurricane Melissa devastated the country, and now health officials have confirmed an outbreak of leptospirosis. From October 30 to November 20, nine cases have been confirmed and 28 are suspected, with six deaths linked to the disease.
Hurricane Melissa was a Category 5 storm and dumped about 30 inches of rain, causing flooding and landslides. The stagnant, muddy water was a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria to spread. Leptospirosis is spread through water or soil contaminated with animal urine, especially rats.
Health Minister Christopher Tufton said the combination of flooding and dirty water has put many people at risk, especially farmers, emergency responders and those doing cleanup work. Symptoms can be flu-like, such as fever, headache and muscle aches, but without treatment, it can lead to kidney failure, liver damage, meningitis and internal bleeding.
The storm has wreaked havoc on the tourism and agriculture sectors, with officials saying losses could reach $10 billion and nearly 200,000 buildings affected. The government is urging people to avoid contaminated water and go to the hospital if they experience symptoms. Recovery has now become more difficult because there is an environmental and health crisis at the same time.
Source: anewz.tv
