THE RATE of infection in the gastro-enteritis outbreak that gripped the country and claimed nine young lives in south eastern Jamaica is now on the decline.
Figures obtained from the Ministry of Health indicate that there has been a 14 per cent decrease in total cases reported in children under five, for the week ending August 15. This, when compared to the previous week, ending August 8. Furthermore, there has been an even greater decrease in cases involving children five years and older.
"There has been a 29 per cent decrease in those cases," Shermaine Robotham, public relations officer in the Health Ministry, told The Gleaner on Monday. This is also when compared to the cases reported in the previous week.
UNUSUAL SURFACING
In July, the Ministry revealed that eight children had died after being infected by the rotavirus, the cause of viral gastro-enteritis or 'running belly'. In addition to the mortality rate, the Ministry was also concerned by the unusual surfacing of the rotavirus in the warm, summer months. Bacterial gastro-enteritis, caused by either salmonella or shigella, is the more common infection seen in the summer.
A campaign was launched in the media warning parents not to treat the symptoms in children with anti-diarrhoeal and anti-emetic medication. The Ministry said the relief caused by these medicines may delay proper treatment and result in serious consequences, including death.
In August, another child died as the outbreak continued unabated.
According to Government figures, there were 14,817 cases up to July this year compared to 13,850 for the same period in 2002. While in the period July 6-12, there were 791 cases compared to 349 cases in the same period last year.
