Concern is mounting about the threat to productivity in the wake of the increase in suspected cases of the Chikungunya Virus in Jamaica.
The Jamaica Employers' Federation, JEF, says it is aware of an increase in employee absenteeism due to symptoms similar to Chik V. Immediate Past President of JEF, Wayne Chen, spoke with our news centre.
He said the impact of Chik V on the work force and the ripple effect on the economy could be significant.
35 confirmed and 352 suspected cases of Chikungunya have been reported by the Health Ministry. In the meantime, Mr. Chen says the situation will have to be closely monitored as there could also be repercussions for the tourism sector. The Ministry of Tourism is taking steps to prepare players in the hospitality trade for any effects of the Chikungunya virus.
Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says the Tourism Enhancement Fund has been supporting initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Health to increase the awareness of sector interests.
And the tally of the chikungunya virus in the Caribbean, pushed by a sharp rise in new cases in the Dominican Republic, has surpassed 738,000. In an update yesterday, the Pan American Health Organization said the count as of September 19 for the Caribbean and neighbouring regions reached 729,178 suspected and 9,537 confirmed cases. That amounts to an increase of 22,185 suspected cases and 886 confirmed cases since September 12.
The Dominican Republic's tally of suspected cases has reached 486,306, up by 19,240 from a week earlier. Confirmed cases in the country remained at 84.
In neighbouring Haiti, the case count stayed at 64,695, about the same it was in late July. Other places that reported rising cases were Curacao, with 665, compared with just 37 a week earlier.
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