The Ministry of Health is reporting that The University Hospital of West Indies has assured that there is no mystery bug at the hospital.
This follows reports in sections of the media that babies had died at the hospital due to an unknown illness.
However, during an emergency meeting yesterday (Saturday, October 17, 2015), Health Minister, Dr. Fenton Ferguson was informed that there is no mystery bug as the causative agent has been identified and is being appropriately treated.
Minister of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson
The meeting also involved a team from the University Hospital, the Health Ministry and the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA).
During the meeting, in the hospital’s boardroom, Dr Ferguson received a full update of the status of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the issues being faced and the actions being taken to address the current situation.
The meeting included consultant microbiologists, neonatologists and paediatricians from the hospital as well as The Ministry’s epidemiologist, infection control physicians and hospital board members.
In the meantime, the joint team from the Health Ministry, SERHA and the University Hospital is continuing to work throughout this weekend to ensure all necessary steps are in place to control the spread of the infection.
Dr Ferguson instructed that the hospital’s board must take all necessary steps to ensure that the problem is contained within the shortest possible time.
He committed to providing, through the Health Ministry, any additional resources required to deal with the situation.
The Minister is also in touch with international partners including the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) which are on standby to provide any additional assistance that may be required.
Meanwhile, Dr Ferguson will be hosting a press briefing this Tuesday, October 20, at 10:00 a.m., to provide an update to the country as to the issues faced by neonatal intensive care units that admit very ill babies.