Jamaica Health Ministry said on Friday that visitors travelling from yellow fever-affected countries will not be allowed to enter Jamaica without proofs of vaccination.
The ban was introduced after several foreigners, who came from yellow fever-affected countries and failed to show their vaccination proofs, were detained by authorities at the airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica’s most popular tourist destination.
The ministry said in a statement that the detainees were released after further checks found that they had not showed any signs of the illness.
Facing the current yellow-fever outbreak in Angola and its spread to the Democratic Republic of Congo, China and Kenya, the ministry stressed the importance of vaccination for visitors travelling to and from the affected countries.
“Jamaica, like several other countries, requires proofs of vaccination from travellers coming from countries that have the yellow fever endemic, and those currently experiencing active transmission,’’ the statement said.
Jamaicans who have travelled to the affected countries would be quarantined for 10 days if they cannot provide proofs of vaccination.
Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes; its symptoms include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
“A small proportion of patients who contract the virus develop severe symptoms and approximately half of them die within seven to 10 days.
“A single dose vaccination, however, provides protection for life and is both safe and affordable, while it is effective 10 days after the date of immunisation,’’ it noted.
The WHO said that the urban yellow fever outbreaks in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo have become serious public health event. (Xinhua/NAN)
ACO/JIE