Breaking News: Respiratory Outbreak Among Jamaican Army Recruits

An unusually large proportion of recruits have come down with what has been described as a respiratory outbreak according to army source, responding publicly to the health scare.

Major Basil Jarrett, Public affairs Officer has confirmed that some 57 recruits stationed at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, about a mile from the old capital Spanish Town is where the outbreak has occurred.

“The recruits have since been given flu shots. Last week Thursday some 2 recruits fell ill during training” declared Major Basil Jarrett.

“A further third of a hundred came down with a respiratory ailment. Fifty seven (57) to date. Tests done by Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that it is not N1H1 or the “Swine Flu”. We weren’t sure what we were dealing with … the MOH went out to Twickenham Park. All recruits have been given flu shots … swabs were done … 57 out of 100 came down. Some are improving “recovery” has been taking place and have since been returned/sent back to training. It is not unusual for the body to breakdown during training. Some 30 have been returned to training. Those affected were sent to Up Park Camp and quarantined. Sixty percent out of 100 recruits have been affected. Asserts Major Basil Jarrett of the army.

Foot Note

It is not immediately clear what may have caused this outbreak. We hope that poor sanitary conditions are not responsible for this outbreak.

With a high crime rate we cannot allow our security forces to get ill.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.