Health Ministry appeals for blood donations to support dengue outbreak response
Published:Tuesday | September 26, 2023 | 6:06 PM
With an outbreak of dengue fever in Jamaica, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is encouraging voluntary blood donations as it anticipates an increase in the demand for blood and blood products.
The health ministry says this is likely should the outbreak intensify and cases progress to severe dengue.
The dengue virus has four different strains (DENV 1-4) and the source is the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito.
While dengue is ordinarily a mild disease, in some instances it can advance to severe dengue.
This can cause organ failure, blood loss and severe fluid depletion that can lead to shock and death.
To donate blood, members of the public must be between 17 and 60 and be in good health, with a body weight of more than 110 pounds.
Persons may visit hospitals to make donations.
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