Sunday, September 28, 2014 | 7:01 PM
KINGSTON, Jamaica – It will get worse.
Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has said in a national address tonight that Chikungunya cases are expected to spike before the spread of the virus eventually peters out.
“It is important to note that the expectation is for Chikungunya cases to spike and then trend down as persons begin to build immunity to this new disease,” Ferguson said.
He said the spread of the virus was expected and that it was “normal” for new diseases.
This is Ferguson’s first address to the nation since the virus hit Jamaican shores earlier this year. The address comes amid criticism of the Government’s handling of the outbreak.
Chik-V was first reported in the Caribbean last year December.
Last week, Dr Kevin Harvey, the acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, told OBSERVER ONLINE that between 38 per cent and 68 per cent of the population will be infected with the virus.
In his address, Ferguson called on employers to be “compassionate” toward affected employees.
“We are aware of the impact this is having on productivity and attendance at school and work and ask employers to be compassionate and assist their staff through this difficult period,” said the minister, who noted that Jamaica had been preparing for the introduction of Chik-V for “over two years”.
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Health minister says Chik-V cases will spike
