Government of Jamaica
National Epidemiology Branch
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Encephalitis

Notification class
Class 1 notifiable eventHealth care providers report it immediately on suspicion to the Medical Officer of Health at their parish health department, or to the National Surveillance Unit, within 24 hours of contact.

Case definition

Acute onset of headache, high fever, meningeal signs, stupor, disorientation, coma, spasticity, tremors, occasional convulsion (especially in infants) and spastic, but rarely flaccid, paralysis.

Specimen

  1. CSF sample on ice
  2. Acute and convalescent serum specimens in red top tubes on ice

Stool sample in sterile universal container on ice

Laboratory

National Public Health Lab (Bacteriology Section)

Timeline for investigation

48 hours

Source: National Surveillance Manual

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The National Surveillance Unit publishes the latest figures every week.

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