Increased monitoring of cruise ships docking at nation’s ports as Gov’t takes precautions to prevent possible risks from Hantavirus

There will be increased monitoring of cruise ships docking at the nation’s ports, as the Government takes precautions to prevent any possible risks from the Hantavirus.

This, as there is an outbreak of the rodent-spread virus aboard a vessel, which departed Argentina on April 1.

Three passengers have died, and several other passengers are infected.

Three of the infected were evacuated from the vessel at Cape Verde this morning.

Addressing concerns about possible spread to Jamaica, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, stressed that the vessel is off the coast of Africa.

She also pointed to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has assessed the situation as low risk, regarding global spread.

However, Dr. Bisasor McKenzie noted that with Jamaica being a major cruise hub, there will be increased vigilance at the ports.

She also noted that after consulting Jamaica’s health officials, it was determined that there was no case of Hantavirus found in rodents on the island.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bisasor McKenzie said Jamaica does not yet have the capacity for lab testing for the virus, but it can be done regionally.