KINGSTON, Jamaica — Health authorities are issuing an urgent plea for public vigilance as a suspected rise in leptospirosis cases sweeps across communities grappling with days of persistent stagnant water following Hurricane Melissa.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie confirmed the heightened risk while speaking on Hotline on Radio Jamaica on Friday, noting that the stagnant water conditions are ideal for the deadly disease to spread.

According to the CMO, the Ministry of Health has already seen suspected cases.

“We have some suspected cases of leptospirosis and this always tend to happen at this time of year and especially worse now because there is a lot of water on the ground and the animal faeces and the animal urine is in that water,” she explained. “And so persons have to make sure they are wearing protective things on their feet when they are going out into that water because they are going to get infected with leptospirosis.”

While the Ministry of Health is currently investigating the suspected cases, which based on protocol are immediately treated as positive, Dr Bisasor-McKenzie stressed that prevention is crucial, as leptospirosis can rapidly progress into a severe, life-threatening illness.

“Leptospirosis is one of those conditions that spreads to become a very severe illness in a short time and can even lead to death, so prevention what is key,” she said.

She stressed the importance of personal responsibility, saying, “Even though as the health team we attend to persons that come in and we try to reach out in terms of outreaches, you may not reach every single person…But persons should take the precaution for their safety.”

The CMO is urging the public to be vigilant with garbage disposal, wear protective gear when entering floodwaters, avoid exposure to dirty water, especially with broken skin, and take all necessary steps to reduce the risk of contamination.