North and Central America and Caribbean

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Health

Medical treatment can be expensive. The standard of private medical facilities can vary throughout the island.

There are confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus - (swine flu) in Jamaica, including reports of one death (source: Ministry of Health). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website.

Dengue fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. In 2007 there was a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region with just over 300 cases reported in Jamaica. The outbreak is mainly concentrated in Kingston and St Catherine.

In the 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 26,000 adults aged 15 or over in Jamaica were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.6% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Jamaica and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see travel health.