Vitals: A quarterly report of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica April 2022

This document looks at dengue statistics for the period January 2018 to December 2021. It focuses on symptoms and signs, history, suspected and confirmed cases and mapping of cases in each parish for the period January 2018 to December 2019.

First Chikungunya outbreak in Suriname: Clinical and epidemiological features

Background In June 2014, Suriname faced the first Chikungunya outbreak. Since international reports mostly focus on hospitalized patients, the least affected group, a study was conducted to describe clinical characteristics of mainly outpatients including children. In addition, the cumulative incidence of this first epidemic was investigated. Methodology During August and September 2014, clinically suspected Chikungunya cases were included in a prospective follow-up study. Blood specimens were collected and tested for viral RNA presence. Detailed clinical information was gathered through multiple telephone surveys until day 180. In addition, a three stage household-based cluster with a cross-sectional design was conducted in October, December 2014 and March 2015 to assess the cumulative incidence. Principal Findings Sixty-eight percent of symptomatic patients tested positive for Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Arthralgia and pain in the fingers were distinctive for viremic CHIKV infected patients. Viremic CHIKV infected children (≤12years) characteristically displayed headache and vomiting, while arthralgia was less common at onset. The disease was cleared within seven days by 20% of the patients, while 22% of the viremic CHIKV infected patients, mostly women and elderly reported persistent arthralgia at day 180. The extrapolated cumulative CHIKV incidence in Paramaribo was 249 cases per 1000 persons, based on CHIKV self-reported cases in 53.1% of the households and 90.4% IgG detected in a subset of self-reported CHIKV+ persons. CHIKV peaked in the dry season and a drastic decrease in CHIKV patients coincided with a governmental campaign to reduce mosquito breeding sites. Conclusions/Significance This study revealed that persistent arthralgia was a concern, but occurred less frequently in an outpatient setting. The data support a less severe pathological outcome for Caribbean CHIKV infections. This study augments incidence data available for first outbreaks in the region and showed that actions undertaken at the national level to mount responses may have positively impacted containment of this CHIKV outbreak.

Emergence of zika virus epidemic and the national response in Jamaica

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. METHODS: The Ministry of Health's preparedness included: heightened surveillance, clinical management guidance, vector control and management, laboratory capacity strengthening, training and staffing, risk communication and public education, social mobilization, inter-sectoral collaboration, resource mobilization and international cooperation. RESULTS: The first case of ZIKV was confirmed on January 29, 2016 with date of onset of January 17, 2016. From January 3 to July 30, 2016 (Epidemiological Week (EW) 1-30), 4648 cases of ZIKV were recorded (4576 suspected, 72 laboratory-confirmed). Leading symptoms were similar among suspected and confirmed cases: rash (71% and 88%), fever (65% and 53%) and joint pains (47% and 38%). There were 17 suspected cases of Guillain Barre syndrome; 383 were reported in pregnant women, with no reports of microcephaly to date. Zika and dengue viruses were circulating predominantly in 2016. At EW30, 1744 cases of dengue were recorded (1661 suspected and 83 confirmed). Dengue serotypes 3 and 4 were circulating with 121 reports of dengue haemorrhagic fever...(AU) CONCLUSION:The possibility exists for endemicity of ZIKV similar to dengue and chikungunya in Jamaica. A ZIKV vaccine, similar to the dengue and chikungunya vaccines, is needed to be fast-tracked into clinical trials to mitigate the effects of this disease.

Arbovirus studies in an evergreen seasonal marsh forest in Trinidad, West Indies

Studies carried out in Turure Forest, north-eastern Trinidad, from March, 1966, to March, 1969, resulted in the isolation of 462 arbovirus strains: 198 Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), 42 eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), 75 group C, 136 Guama group, 2 Ilheus, 1 St. Louis encephalitis, 5 Wyeomyia, 1 Maguari, 1 Cocal, and 1 Aruac, Strains of VEE were recovered most frequently from sentinel mice (109) and Culex portesi (82), and the same was true for the group C and Guana group isolates. EEE strains came from sentinel mice (30), C. pedroi (11), and C. portesi (1). Forest rodents yielded only 9 isolates, all group C and Guana group and all from Proechimys guyannensis and Oryzomys capito; however, 21 percent of 639 rodent sera had haemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibodies to one or more viruses. VEE HI antibodies were more common in O. capito that in P. guya nnensis. In complement-fixation (CF) tests, 32 percent of O. capito and 8 percent of P. guyannensis reacted with a Guama group antigen. Birds yielded 3 isolates, 2 Iheus and 1 St. Louis, but 10 percent of 1,414 Manacus manacus sera reacted with EEE antigen in HI test. Three of 4 horses had CF antibodies to EEE, and 54 percent of 158 human sera wer HI-positive for one or more of 9 antigens used, including VEE and EEE (AU)

Epidemiological investigation for arboviruses in Jamaica, West Indies

Arbovirus investigation in Jamaica was undertaken between 1960 and 1975. Serological studies showed that antibodies to dengue type virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLE) were prevalent throughout the island for several years. In urban communities, the incidence of dengue antibody was higher than for SLE; however, in children under 10 years of age antibody to both viruses was rarely present. In rural areas, SLE was prevalent in adults and children. This virus was isolated from Culex nigripalpus (mosquitoes) and from a nestling Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, in the same rural area, during two epidemic periods, 1963 and 1968. No other group B arbovirus was encountered on the island. Group A arbovirus was virtually absent prior to the eastern equine encephalomyelitis outbreak of 1962. That virus was isolated from brain tissue of humans and equines. Two strains of Cache valley virus from mosquitoes, Anopheles grabhami, one strain from Aedes taeniorhynchus, and a strain of Wad Medani virus from a tick, Amblyomma cajenense, were also isolated (AU)

Serological evidence of infection of tacaribe virus and arboviruses in Trinidadian bats

Sera from 39 species of bats collected in Trinidad between 1972 and 1974 were tested against some or all of 18 arboviruses in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and/or suckling mouse neutralization (N) tests. A few sera were HI-positive with Mucambo, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Oriboca, Restan, Manzanilla, Guama, Bimiti, and Catu. No sera were HI-positive with Mayaro, Caraparu or Maguari. Many sera inhibited one or more of the group B hemagglutinins: Ilheus, St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), dengue 2, and yellow fever (YF), positives occurred in nearly every species of bat, being most frequent with Ilheus. In N tests, a few or single sera were found to protect against Ilheus, Nepuyo, Guama, Bimiti, and Cocal, while none protected against EEE, SLE, YF or Catu. Many sera positive in HI test with Ilheus, SLE or YF failed to neutralize the respective virus. Tacaribe neutralizing antibody was demonstrated in Artibeus jamaicensis and A.lituratus, the sources of past virus isolation, in the fruit bats Sturnira lilium and Vampyrops helleri, and in the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. Sera from 19 other species gave either negative or inconclusive results. No convincing evidence of Tacaribe antibody was found in 29 human sera, 20 from bat collectors (AU)

Isolation of Rio Bravo and a hitherto undescribed agent, tamana bat virus, from insectivorous bats in Trinidad, with serological evidence of infection in bats and man

Between 1972 and 1974, 3,278 bats of 28 species were processed for virus isolation by suckling mouse (SM) inoculation. Two strains each of two related viruses, not hitherto reported from Trinidad, were isolated from insectovorous bats. Rio Bravo (RB) virus was isolated from salivary glands and saliva of the house bat, Molossus ater. The other virus, isolated from salivary glands, saliva and spleen of the molustache bat, Pteronotus parnollii, is a hitherto undescribed agent herein named Tamana bat virus (TBV). This virus has arbovirus characteristics: sensitivity to ether, pathogenicity for SM, and ability to hemagglutinate goose erythrocytes, but no serological relationship with known arboviruses and other viruses could be detected. In inoculation experiments with TBV, fatal illness was produced only in infant mice and rats, salivary virus excretion was demonstrated in a monkey and in Phyllostomus hastatus bats, and virus was passed in bats by subcutaneous inoculation of infected saliva. Sera of humans and 39 species of bats were tested for hemagglutination inhibition (HI): 46 out of 169 human and 125 out of 887 bat sera reacted with RB antigen, and of the positive bat sera reacted with TBV antigen, positives occurring in 15 bat species comprising insectovorous, fruit-eating and vampire bats, with highest incidence in cave-roosting species. In SM neutralization tests, 18 out of 27 HI-positive human sera protected against RB, 1 out of 10 against TBV; bat sera protective against RB were found in 4 insectovorous species, and against TBV in 8 species including the vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus. No evidence of arthropod transmission of either virus was found (AU)

First isolation of Catu virus from a human in Trinidad

The first isolation of Catu virus from a human in Trinidad is reported. It is also the first human isolate outside of Brazil. A convalescent serum neutralized 5.0 logs of the homologous virus.(AU)

Studies of Patois group arboviruses in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and British Honduras

Patois, Zegla, and Shark River-like arboviruses in the Patois group were isolaed in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and British Honduras during 1963 to 1968. Twenty-three Patois viruses came from mosquitoes, sentinel hamsters, and suckling mice, 21 Zegla viruses from sentinel hamsters and mice and from a wild cotton rat, and two Shark River-like viruses from sentinel hamsters. Hemagglutination-inhibition(HI) and neutralizing antibody tests with Patois virus were positive with human sera from each country, and HI antibody tests were positive with sera from pigs in Mexico, Guatemala, and British Honduras and from small wild mammals, wild birds, and cattle in Mexico.(AU)

The investigation of an arbovirus encephalitis

A definition of an arbovirus and a broad idea of the groups and the numbers isolated and causing human infection are given. The small incidence of clinical disease compared with overall infection rates is stressed. The conditions for the successful survival of arboviruses is outlined. The investigation of the illness and origin of infection is described. The role of viral antibody in the development of encephalitis and the use of cortisone in treatment is discussed. The over-wintering of arboviruses and their capacity for latency is considered in relationship to the perpetuation of virus and the pathogenic effects on the hosts involved (Summary)

Arbovirus infections in Dutch military personnel stationed in Surinam: further studies

Serum specimens of Dutch military personnel were taken immediately after arrival in Surinam and again, one year later, just prior to departure. A total of 500 paired serum specimens covering the period February 1962-1964 were received at the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory. Screening HIV tests were done with 5 group A antigens, 1 group B antigen, 4 group C antigens and 1 Bunyamwera group antigen (Cache Valley). A total of 34 converters were found with antigens prepared from Trinidadian and Surinamese Venezuelan equine encephalitis strains. With Mayaro antigen 7 converters were found. Sera positive to Una and Paramaribo virus antigens were positive to Mayaro also with the highest titer to the latter antigen. With Caraparu antigens 14 converters were found, with Restan antigen 17 and with antigen of a Surinamese Oriboca strain 8. No conversions were discovered with an antigen prepared with a Trinidadian Oriboca strain. An additional five serum pairs showed conversions with more than one of the group C antigens. With St. Louis encephalitis antigen not more than 5 serum pairs showed conversion. With Cache Valley antigen conversion was found in only one serum pair. The data indicate that infections with VEE, Mayaro and the group C agents tended to occur in small epidemics (AU)

Restan virus, a new group C arbovirus from Trinidad and Surinam

Restan virus is a new serotype of arbovirus group C that has been isolated seven times in Trinidad and Surinam during 1963 and 1964. Three strains were recovered from Culex spp. and four from acutely ill human beings. The new agent is related most closely to Marituba and Murutucu viruses, from which it is distinguishable only in hemagglutination-inhibitation test. It circulates to high titer in laboratory-colonized rodents of the species Zygodontomys b. brevicauda and Oryzomys laticeps velutinus. In the laboratory it has been transmitted by Aedes aegypti. Results of serum surveys are reported. (AU)

Nepuyo Virus, a new group C agent isolated in Trinidad and Brazil. I. Isolation and properties of the Trinidadian strain

A previously undescribed group C agent has been isolated from Culex (Eubonnea) accelerants Root collected near Rio Claro in southeastern Trinidad. The name Nepuyo is proposed for this agent. Neutralizing antibody has been demonstrated in human serum. Some of the physical and biological properties of the virus are described. (AU)

Virus transmission studies with Trinidadian mosquitoes. Part II. Further observations

Evidence is presented that, with techniques of parenteral inoculocation of virus followed by later feeding on susceptible chicks or mice, six species of Trinidadian mosquitoes transmitted Ilheus virus, six species transmitted St. Louis virus and one species transmitted Mayaro virus. (Summary)

Virus transmission studies with Trinidadian mosquitoes

Virus isolations from Trinidad mosquitoes now total 71 strains, of which 22 represent yellow fever, 7 are Ilheus, 3 are St. Louis, and 39 are still to be identified. Attempts have been made to propagate some of these agents in forest mosquitoes as well as to effect their transmission. The studies have demonstrated that local mosquitoes may harbour these agents under laboratory conditions for considerable periods of time. Transmissions were successfully effected in the case of Mayaro and St. Louis viruses. (Summary)

Distribution of immunity to Mayaro virus infection in the West Indies

Infection with Mayaro virus has been shown to be prevalent in south-eastern Trinidad and Rupununi Savannah and Manzaruni River regions of British Guiana. No evidence of infection was found in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Tobago. (Summary)

Mayaro virus: a new human disease agent. I. Relationship to other arbor viruses

Two viruses from Trinidad, Tr 4675 and Tr 5264, have been compared by means of hemaglutination inhibition tests, complement fixation tests and neutralization tests with previously described arthropod-borne (arbor) animal viruses. It has been found that the Tr 4675 and Tr 5264 are antigenically indistinguishable by HI and CF tests. Tr 4675 has been found to belong to Casals' Group of arbor viruses and to be most closely related to Semliki Forest virus. However both by HI and CF tests , Tr 4675 is sufficiently distinguishable from Semliki Forest virus to justify its being considered as a new agent. It has been named Mayaro virus. Despite the fact that both animal and human immune sera react with homologous (Mayaro) HA and CF in significantly higher titer than with Semliki antigens, the degree of overlap as shown by intracerebral neutralization tests is none the less considerable. Convalescent sera from recently infected human beings have sufficient antibodies to be readily demonstrable in standard Semliki neutralization tests. (Summary)