Dear Editor,

The politics played by some members of the left is so disheartening and distasteful.

So, last Friday the Ministry of Health reported to the nation that they’ve found evidence of Vibrio Cholerae from a blood sample taken from a patient. According to the ministry, this form of cholera is not the dangerous type.

They’ve sent the sample to the Caribbean Public Health Agency, located in Trinidad. The results were expected to be in on Tuesday, but due to the weather conditions in that island we haven’t got them yet.

On Tuesday afternoon, somebody — or individuals — started circulating false information on Whatsapp and on other social media platforms about cholera. Some persons said that: “The JLP [Jamaica Labour Party] bring cholera to Jamaica.”

This was the bit of fake news in circulation:

“Alright people serious info, got a heads up from some associates from MOH, also heard it in the meeting at H… awhile ago from … govt is currently testing our water supply for cholera. So far 5 people have turned up at hospital with cholera-like symptoms and they are afraid it’s an outbreak after the recent flooding. Boil all drinking water or purchase bottled water, avoid rivers, streams, ponds. Water ingestion is the easiest means of transmission.”

So my question to these alarmist people is: If cholera is in Jamaica, will it only choose JLP supporters?

Fake news or alarmist news like these make governments worldwide want to censor social media.

People must careful what they wish for. We had a cholera outbreak in 1851. We saw what went on in Haiti when they had a cholera outbreak. Politics can be played with fake rice, but please don’t play politricks with cholera.

Teddylee Gray

Ocho Rios, St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com