The Ministry of Health is investigating the first suspected monkeypox death in Jamaica.
Read more: Health Ministry investigating suspected monkeypox related death
Townhead District, Westmoreland — Tashana Ferguson is wracked with guilt, beating herself up for failing to notice that her teenage daughter was seriously ill. Davieka Briyona Clarke, who turns 15 on Saturday, has lupus. She was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year after being ill for more than two years.
Read more: Mother says she missed signs daughter was ill; help on the way for young lupus patient
Health authorities here have increased surveillance for Monkeypox after being alerted to the fact that a crew member on a flight to the island has tested positive for the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that 200 monkeypox cases found in recent weeks outside countries where the virus usually circulates could just be the beginning.
Jamaica could start receiving results today from genome sequencing done locally, which could confirm the presence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the island.
Read more: Jamaica could get first results today from its variant-testing machine