Mandate and history
The Branch began in 1977 as the Epidemiology Unit, with four posts. Today it is a branch of the Ministry’s Technical Services Division, and its work rests on the Public Health Act and the International Health Regulations.
Mandate
Mission
The generation of timely and accurate information for the health of all Jamaicans.
Goal of the surveillance system
To prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases and Class 1 health events.
History
Before 1976
Disease reporting is mainly the work of the Statistics Unit, now the Health Information Unit.
1976
A spate of poisonings is traced to flour shipped to Jamaica and contaminated in transit with parathion, an organophosphate insecticide. Specific disease surveillance begins.
1977
The Epidemiology Unit is established, with four posts, during an outbreak of dengue fever. Its stated purpose: “to monitor trends and advise on the control of outbreaks of communicable diseases”. Its mandate covers communicable disease surveillance and control, outbreak investigation and quarantine.
1980s
HIV/AIDS surveillance and control, disaster preparedness and research are added to the Unit’s responsibilities.
2023
National Epidemiology is a branch of the Technical Services Division, with a team of over 34 staff in the Office of the National Epidemiologist and its units.
July 2026
An updated National Surveillance Manual for Jamaica sets out how surveillance works at every level, from reporting sites to the Ministry. Read the manual
Today
The National Epidemiology Branch: the Office of the National Epidemiologist, the National Surveillance Unit, the Epidemiology Research and Analysis Unit, the Health Status Monitoring Unit and the Geographical Information Systems Sub-Unit.
Strategies and objectives
Vision 2030 Jamaica
National outcome: a healthy and stable population, through stronger disease surveillance, mitigation and risk reduction, and a more responsive health system.
Health sector strategies
- Prioritise national epidemiology issues.
- Introduce a research agenda and programme to support informed planning and decision-making in health administration and delivery.
- Strengthen policies, systems and programmes to reduce mortality and improve health status.
- Promote the use of information in planning, management and healthcare delivery.
Vision for Health 2030
- Objective 2.3: evidence-based policy, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, with a funded Health Research Agenda.
- Objective 2.5: full implementation of the eight core capacities of the International Health Regulations, full compliance with mandatory notification, and stronger surveillance.
Operational objectives
- Effective stewardship and governance of the epidemiological systems.
- Evidence-based policy, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Better information available for action and evidence-based decisions.
- Epidemiological data to inform public health programmes, actions and interventions.
The law behind surveillance
Public Health Act
1985
With the Public Health (Class 1 Notifiable Diseases) Order 2003, the cornerstone of disease surveillance. It authorises the Ministry to collect, analyse and share health data to prevent and control communicable diseases, and gives the Minister powers to investigate and control outbreaks.
Quarantine Act
1951, last amended 1991
The legal framework for controlling the spread of infectious diseases through quarantine.
Tourist Establishments Regulations
2000
Under the Public Health Act, surveillance in hotels and other tourist establishments, to protect residents and visitors.
Disaster Risk Management Act
2015
The framework for the State’s response to hazards, disease outbreaks among them, that rise to the level of a disaster.
Data Protection Act
In effect since December 2023
Regulates the processing of personal data, protecting people’s privacy.
International Health Regulations
2005
As a signatory, Jamaica must detect, assess, report and respond to public health events that may be emergencies of international concern, and notify the World Health Organization within 24 hours of assessment.
Source: National Surveillance Manual for Jamaica (July 2026); National Epidemiology Branch
