Flu is surging across Jamaica, sickening scores of people with fevers, aches, sore throats and other nasty symptoms, according to local doctors, though the Ministry of Health and Wellness maintains that influenza activity remains within seasonal norms.

Dr Lisa Franklin-Banton, a paediatrician at We R Kids Paediatric Centre, told Observer Online that she has seen an increase in Influenza A cases among children over the last three weeks.

“I am definitely seeing a significant increase in patients presenting with respiratory illnesses, and I do testing,” Dr Franklin-Banton said. “I have a kit that tests for COVID, influenza A and influenza B, and we’ve had a significant number of positive influenza A cases.”

Dr Franklin-Banton noted that she has been observing an increase in flu cases since before Christmas, “but in the last two to three weeks, we’ve had a big increase in the number of positive cases” she said.

According to the paediatrician, the majority of the cases are among children aged four to seven, but she noted that cases are being seen across all age groups, from infants to teenagers.

Paediatrician Dr Lisa Franklin-Banton says she has seen an increase in Influenza A cases among children over the last three weeks.

She outlined that the symptoms being experienced include high fever, extreme fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea and persistent coughs.

“We definitely need to be aware that there is a rise in cases and we need to take precautions. One of my biggest concerns is that parents are still sending their children to school when they are not feeling well. I think that is one of the reasons why it is spreading so rapidly among schoolchildren,” Dr Franklin-Banton said.

She urged parents to watch out for serious complications such as pneumonia and myositis, a disease in which the immune system attacks the muscles in the body.

“That is where the virus causes the muscles, usually of the calves and legs, to break down, and that can cause complications with the kidneys,” she said of myositis. “Parents may think this is just part of the illness, the aches and pains, but a child should not be complaining of not wanting to walk or having severe pain in the legs.”

Dr Khia Josina Duncan, a general practitioner and ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, is also reporting more severe flu-like illnesses and higher admissions this flu season, especially among children and the elderly.

Dr Khia Josina Duncan raised concerns about what she described as an uptick in complicated sinusitis cases.

While noting that she does not have official data to support the increase, the ENT surgeon said her experience in both public and private healthcare suggests a noticeable rise.

“I work in both public and private healthcare and I’ve seen more frequent cases, as well as more hospital admissions than usual,” Dr Duncan shared.

She noted that many patients presenting with what they believe are sinus infections are instead suffering from influenza-related symptoms, including severe headaches, prolonged coughs, body pain and gastrointestinal symptoms.

“I’m an ENT, so people will present to me with concerns about sinus problems, but it’s really not sinus issues; it’s more flu-like symptoms,” Dr Duncan said.

In terms of symptoms, Dr Duncan suggested that “it’s more severe than last year”, adding that she’s “seeing more hospital admissions, especially among the elderly and paediatric groups.”

Principal Medical Officer and National Epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Karen Webster-Kerr

The general practitioner raised concerns about what she described as an uptick in complicated sinusitis cases.

“We’re seeing more complicated sinusitis. Basically, complicated sinusitis is when you have a sinus infection, but it spreads either to the orbit or to the brain. We’re seeing more intracranial or brain infections,” she said.

She urged people, especially the elderly, children and persons with chronic illnesses, to seek medical care early, stay home when ill and practice infection-prevention measures.

Despite the reported uptick in influenza cases from doctors on the ground, Principal Medical Officer and National Epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Karen Webster-Kerr, told Observer Online that Jamaica is currently experiencing a seasonal increase in influenza cases, but no outbreak.

According to the epidemiologist, surveillance data from 78 public and private health facilities and six hospitals islandwide show that influenza activity remains within expected levels for this time of year.

“In the last four weeks, what we have seen predominating is Influenza A (H3N2), which has about 85 per cent. Influenza A (H1N1), the pandemic strain of 09, accounts for about 10 per cent, and the other five per cent is Influenza B (Victoria),” Dr Webster-Kerr said, adding that no COVID-19 or other respiratory-sensitive virus cases were recorded during the period.

Meanwhile, hospitalisation related to severe acute respiratory infection stands at 1.3 per cent, which Dr Webster-Kerr noted is below outbreak thresholds.

Despite flu activity remaining within expected levels, Dr Webster-Kerr urged people to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against the virus, such as wearing masks, staying home when ill and getting the flu vaccine.

“What we are seeing globally with Influenza A (H3N2), which is what is predominating, is that it appears to be spreading faster. We therefore need to make sure we protect ourselves and others from getting the flu,” Dr Webster-Kerr said.

Additionally, the epidemiologist recommends that persons get the flu vaccine.

“While it is usually taken earlier, it is not too late to get vaccinated, especially for vulnerable groups, particularly older persons,” she said.

According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica’s flu season typically begins to increase between October and November, peaks between December and March, and can last as late as May.