Leptospirosis alert in Western Jamaica: 11 cases reported after Hurricane Melissa

Health authorities are reporting a rise in infectious disease concerns following Hurricane Melissa, with the Ministry of Health and Wellness confirming 11 cases of leptospirosis across several parishes.

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According to Dr. Karen Webster Kerr, principal medical officer and national epidemiologist, the cases have been detected in St James, Hanover, St Elizabeth, and St Ann. Two were recorded in Catherine Hall, St James — one of the communities hardest hit by severe flooding during the storm.

Public health officials say the widespread floodwaters in the western parishes have created the ideal environment for disease transmission. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie warned that the saturated conditions significantly increase the risk of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that spreads through water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals.

People who work outdoors, handle debris, or come into contact with floodwaters face the highest exposure. The bacteria can enter the body through even minor breaks in the skin, including cuts, scrapes, or bruises. Symptoms typically include fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, vomiting, and sometimes jaundice. In more severe cases, leptospirosis can lead to kidney failure, liver damage, meningitis, and respiratory complications.

Leptospirosis can be fatal, but that usually happens in severe cases where treatment is delayed.

Most people recover fully with early medical care, but without prompt treatment the infection can progress to serious complications like kidney failure, liver damage, meningitis, or respiratory distress — all of which increase the risk of death.

After a hurricane, the risk rises because more people come into contact with contaminated floodwater, so early treatment is especially important.

Bisasor-McKenzie urged Jamaicans to seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms, stressing that early treatment greatly improves outcomes. “Most cases can be managed successfully,” she said, but warned that delayed care increases the risk of complications, including death.

Rise of other diseases after Melissa

During an online forum hosted by the Ministry on Sunday, Dr. Webster Kerr noted that other diseases may also emerge in the aftermath of a disaster like Hurricane Melissa. These include dengue, tetanus, and typhoid — all of which thrive under conditions involving stagnant water, disrupted sanitation, and debris-filled environments.

While dengue activity remains low for now, health officials caution that mosquito populations could rise as standing water accumulates across affected communities. The ministry is also monitoring two adult tetanus cases — one in Westmoreland and another in St Elizabeth. Tetanus is a serious, often life-threatening infection of the nervous system caused by bacteria that enter the body through wounds or punctures.

Webster Kerr added that there are currently no outbreaks of gastroenteritis or fever-related illnesses, but surveillance has been heightened as recovery efforts continue.

Health officials are urging residents in flooded areas to avoid contaminated water, wear protective gear during cleanup, cover cuts and wounds, and seek medical care if they experience concerning symptoms.