LEPTO SCARE IN THE WEST
Published:Saturday | November 15, 2025 | 12:20 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
Health officials are probing whether two people involved in post-Melissa cleanup efforts in Catherine Hall and Westgreen, St James, died from leptospirosis, a bacterial disease often spread by water contaminated with rat urine.
Both Catherine Hall and Westgreen were flooded out by the city’s main rivers – Barnett, Pye and Montego – on October 28 when Hurricane Melissa ravaged several parts of Jamaica. The rivers carried thick mud and debris into homes, businesses and roadways, leaving residents to face days of contaminated floodwater and mounting sanitation risks.
One of the two people who died had reportedly been working in Catherine Hall, helping to clear debris. Days later, he began feeling ill and was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he died two days after being admitted.
Dr Delroy Fray, clinical coordinator for the Western Regional Health Authority, said he could not confirm any deaths linked to leptospirosis. However, he acknowledged that the cases were “suspicious”, underscoring the need for gloves, protective clothing and water boots during cleanup operations.
“Children should be warned not to play in the water,” he stressed. “And those who must be part of the cleanup exercise must ensure they wash their hands and bodies well after.”
PUBLIC ADVISORY
The Ministry of Health & Wellness has since issued a public advisory urging Jamaicans to take precautions against leptospirosis following the widespread flooding caused by Hurricane Melissa.
In a bulletin released on November 9, the ministry warned that the disease can be spread through water, soil, or food contaminated by the urine of infected animals, and reminded the public to avoid wading or playing in floodwaters, refrain from consuming food that may have been exposed to floodwater or animal urine, and wear protective clothing and footwear during cleanup. The ministry also advised Jamaicans to handle animals carefully and to visit the nearest health centre immediately if they experience fever, chills, muscle pain, or other flu-like symptoms.
On Wednesday, during a meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation, a resident of Westgreen Meadows reported that her community was being overrun by rats, raising further concerns about public health risks in the aftermath of the flooding.