Chikungunya Confirmed At UWI Jamaica Mona Campus

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has confirmed a case of the mosquito borne Chikungunya virus at one of its campuses and is urging students and administrative staff to take preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease.

The UWI said that officials at its Mona campus here have implemented measures to prevent a spread through a fogging exercise and students and employees are being urged to ensure that they have no containers which could become mosquito breeding sites.

It also urged individuals, to protect themselves from mosquito bites and seek medical help if they develop acute fever and severe joint pain. It said that they should remain alert and refrain from panic.

Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson recently confirmed four recorded cases of Chikungunya, whose symptoms include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.

Health officials say while Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, the symptoms can be severe and disabling.