ABSTRACT

Background: Jamaica, along with the Americas, experienced major epidemics of arboviral diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito in recent years. These include dengue fever in 2012, chikungunya fever in 2014 and Zika virus infection (ZIKV) in 2016. We present the emergence of the ZIKV epidemic in Jamaica and outline the national response.

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ABSTRACT

Using two different attack rates, 20% and 30%, the paper attempts to project several possible outcomes for the Jamaican economy in the event of a severe pandemic. In addition to forecasting the possible loss in man hours for the economy, the study uses the Monte Carlo modelling technique to provide estimates of the death and hospitalization rates among the 0–19, 20–64 and 65+-year age cohorts while extra-polating the demand for healthcare providers.

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third most frequent cause of death from cancer (1). The risk of HCC increases with age. There is a significant effect of gender on the risk of development of HCC. The worldwide male to female incidence ratio is 2.7:1.

INTRODUCTION

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BACKGROUND

“Tattooing”, now a growing trend in Jamaica, poses an unforeseen threat for transmission of blood-borne pathogens due to unethical and unsterile practices of persons in the art.

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