Health Minister, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says there may be as many as 71 cases of the Chikungunya virus in the country.
He made the revelation today as the debate about how widespread the mosquito-borne disease is continues.
The Health Ministry has so far confirmed 24 cases of the Chikungunya virus.
Dr. Ferguson says there are 47 other cases that have not been confirmed but are epidemiologically-linked to Chikungunya when symptoms and other factors are considered.
He says those are also likely to be actual cases of the mosquito-borne virus.
Dr. Ferguson was speaking this morning with ‘Cliff Hughes Online’ on Power 106.
Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr. Ken Baugh, claims there’s now a ‘full-blown epidemic’ of Chikungunya in St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew.
The Health Ministry has rejected claims by Dr. Baugh that its numbers are not credible. Dr. Baugh has also accused the Ministry of under-reporting Chik-V cases.
The Ministry says it’s testing and reporting procedures are in line with international standards.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ferguson says the Health Ministry has established a Command Centre for persons who want information on Chikungunya.
Persons may call three different numbers for information.
Dr. Ferguson says the Command Centre was established the moment the first case of Chikungunya was confirmed in the country. He says this is in keeping with the protocol of the World Health Organization.
Dr. Ferguson says persons should not use politics to cause panic where matters relating to health are concerned.
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