Accidental poisoning

Also called Poisoning

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

Any case of suspected poisoning regardless of route of exposure (e.g. bleach or kerosene ingestion) considered to have occurred by accident.

Specimen

For suspected Lead poisoning- Blood in purple top tube

Laboratory

Government Chemist, Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica, (876-927-1829).

For other agents, seek advice from the National Surveillance Unit (876-633-7937)

Timeline for investigation

2 weeks

Source: National Surveillance Manual

How it’s monitored

Notified as it occurs and followed up with an investigation report. The weekly bulletin gives confirmed cases for the year to date, beside last year’s.

The figures

The National Surveillance Unit publishes the latest figures every week.

Weekly bulletins

Dashboards

For health professionals

Case definitions

Forms

How to report