Eighteen newborns have died and 42 infected from the outbreak of infections at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units at the University Hospital of the West Indies and Cornwall Regional Hospital.
According to the Ministry of Health, this is the second outbreak since the start of the year – the first occurred between June and July.
This was revealed at a media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning to update the country on the situation.
According to Dr. Karen Webster, National Epidemiologist, the infections developed from two organisms, Klebsiella and Serratia, both of which can be transmitted through human contact as well as unsanitary environment and equipment.
The Health Ministry stated that, after quarantining all health personnel at the two hospitals who came in contact with the newborns, it was determined that they were not responsible for the transmission.
The Klebsiella bacteria can cause infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, as well as meningitis. Serratia infections tend to affect the respiratory and urinary tracts and occur in hospitalised patients.
Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson confirmed that additional consultants are to arrive in Jamaica by Wednesday to help the authorities tackle the outbreak.
“I also spoke with the Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) , who is sending an advisor on infection prevention and control. In addition I have been informed that there are three addditional persons coming from PAHO within the next 24 to 48 hours,” Ferguson said.
Why the silence
Dr. Kevin Harvey, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, explaining why the country was not informed about the first outbreak, said the need for information in Jamaica has shifted.
“An outbreak may not have necessarily… may not have warranted a public disclosure, but we recognise the need for information has shifted and we are being upfront now and proactive in terms of providing the necessary information the public wants,” he said.
