Gareth Davis Sr., Gleaner Writer

The local Ministry of Health (MoH) in Portland is reporting that 12 persons living in an informal settlement adjacent to the old Marina in Port Antonio, have contracted the dreaded disease tuberculosis.

Chief Public Health Inspector for the parish, Caram Ramtulla, explained that the MoH has been getting reports over a period of five years, regarding those who have tested positive for the contagious disease in the unplanned settlement.

"That unplanned settlement has a population of approximately 42 persons including men, women, and children," he said. "We have been getting cases, maybe one for the year and as much as two for the year involving persons from that settlement," he added.

The squatter settlement is occupied largely by groups of local fishermen, who participate in the annual canoe tournament held at the old Marina, which is also home to the international Blue Marlin Tournament, an annual angling competition held in October.

The public health boss said they have since implemented plans to curtail the spread of the disease, and that all persons at that settlement will be screened. He added that they are also putting in place public health education, along with mitigating control measures.

Mr. Ramtulla pointed out that he believes the settlement should have been relocated years ago during the development stage of the state of the art marina. He pointed out also that it is his understanding that some persons might have been given or offered. "We are fully aware of what is there and the control measures are already in place.

"There is no real need for alarm at this time. We are hoping that the Portland Parish Council will play its part in this emergency, and I must point out that it really needs some serious intervention," he added.

safety standard

And the parish council has agreed to send its building officers to the site, so as to determine whether any of the dwellings meet the basic safety standard, and also if there are any breaches of building regulations.

The finding of tuberculosis come in the wake of seven reported cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne disease. Five of the seven persons are being treated, but according to the MoH they are unable to locate the other two. The MoH said medical records have to be reviewed so as to determine the location of the other two infected persons.

Symptoms of dengue are, fever, head ache, muscle and joint pains, skin rash, pain at the back of the eyes, nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pains, and bleeding spots under the skin.