(Original Article Written by Juboy)
1. Jamaica, Yuh Feeling Di Pressure Too?
Tell mi something…
How many time yuh hear one story pon TVJ Midday News bout some sickness weh tek people by surprise, an yuh seh,
“Jah know… wah next?”
Now di latest headline shake up di whole island:
Leptospirosis outbreak a spread, an one mother an har likkle daughter haffi run lef dem place fi seek shelter.
But di real question a this:
Why it keep happening? An how Jamaican families can protect demself before it reach dem doorway?
Today mi a break it down clean-clean. No big fancy science talk—just truth, clarity, an yard-style explanation fi everybody from Kingston to St. Thomas to deep rural Westmoreland.
2. Why Jamaica Always Vulnerable?
Leptospirosis come from rat urine, contaminated water, flood, mud, animals… basically any place weh nasty water settle.
An Jamaica?
Every rainy season we have:
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Flooding
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Poor drainage
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Waste piling up
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Street-side food exposed
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Rats taking over
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People walking barefoot in water
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Children playing outside unaware
So when di news drop say outbreak deh bout, people panic. Especially single mothers, likkle pickney, senior citizens, an anybody living close to gully or riverbank.
One woman tell TVJ:
“Mi cyaan risk it wid mi daughter. Every rain di place smell, di water flood in, mi haffi go find somewhere safe.”
Dat a real life Jamaica—fear, frustration, an survival.
3. Wah People Get Wrong About Lepto
Nuff Jamaicans believe:
❌ “Lepto only ketch dog an pig.”
❌ “If yuh healthy, yuh safe.”
❌ “A only country people get it.”
❌ “Rainwater clean.”
❌ “If yuh drink bush tea, it cure everything.”
Big lie.
Leptospirosis nuh partial.
It can hit anybody, anywhere—even inna big town if di drainage nasty.
And untreated?
It can kill.
So Jamaica need fi stop treat it like “one likkle flu.”
4. How Fi Stay Safe, Step by Step
STEP 1 — Avoid Flood Water Like Trouble
If water brown, muddy, or flood out:
Don’t walk in it. Don’t play in it. Don’t push yuh hand in it.
Why it work?
Because dat water can mix wid rat urine fast-fast.
STEP 2 — Cover Yuh Skin
Wear:
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Boots
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Thick sneakers
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Gloves if yuh cleaning yard
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Long pants if yuh in bush
It reduce risk big time.
STEP 3 — Fix Drainage Round Yuh Yard
Even small action help:
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Clear gutter
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Lift garbage off ground
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Cover drums
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Patch leaks
Why it matter?
Rats love stagnant water like Jamaicans love festival.
STEP 4 — Sanitize All Food Areas
Bleach, Lysol, boiling water—use dem proper.
STEP 5 — If Yuh Feel Sick, Go Doctor QUICK
Symptoms include:
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Fever
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Body pain
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Red eye
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Vomiting
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Weakness
Don’t play hero. Catch early = save life.
5. Di Real Science inna Yard Language
Leptospirosis is a bacteria.
When rat pee mix wid water, it survive long.
Once dat water touch yuh:
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Cut
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Bruise
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Eye
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Mouth
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Skin
…it enter yuh body same speed.
Inside, it attack organs—liver, kidney, lungs.
Doctors treat it with antibiotics, but time crucial.
Wait too long and di bacteria multiply like “dutty badmind.”
6. Real Jamaican Story — “A Mother Run Fi Save Har Daughter”
Di woman from TVJ story seh di water run through her board house every time rain fall.
Rats run night-time pon di counter.
Pickney cough from di dampness.
Before di outbreak big, she pack two bag, hold di pickney hand, an run go stay wid family because:
“Mi nah mek no sickness tek mi child. If mi haffi sleep pon floor, mi sleep pon floor.”
Before:
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Rat droppings in pan
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Flood water reach foot
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Pickney bawl when rain fall
After she leave:
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Safe environment
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Clean water
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Peace of mind
Sometimes di bravest ting a parent can do is MOVE.
7. Mistakes Jamaicans Must Avoid During Outbreak
❌ Mistake #1 — Walking Barefoot
Fix: Wear shoes. Simple.
❌ Mistake #2 — Eating From Open Street Vendors During Heavy Rain
Fix: Choose covered, clean, safe food spots.
❌ Mistake #3 — Ignoring Early Symptoms
Fix: Go clinic same day.
❌ Mistake #4 — Storing Water in Uncovered Containers
Fix: Cover everything tight.
8. Who This Advice Nuh Work For? + FAQ
Not ideal for:
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People without clean water access
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People who cannot relocate during flooding
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Housing schemes wid chronic drainage problems
But alternatives deh here:
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Community clean-up
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Block drains before heavy rain
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Government health center information
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Free pamphlet from Ministry of Health
FAQ
Q: Can pets give humans leptospirosis?
Yes, but rats still the main problem.
Q: Does chlorine kill it?
In proper mixture—yes.
Q: If mi yard flood already, wah fi do?
Bleach, gloves, clean quick, don’t saturate barefoot.
9. Quick Action Plan
✔ Step 1: Secure yuh water sources
✔ Step 2: Block rats entry
✔ Step 3: Keep yuh skin covered
✔ Step 4: Clean yard before rain
✔ Step 5: Seek help if symptoms show
Fast, simple, lifesaving.
10. We Strong, But We Must Be Smart
Jamaica tough.
We survive hurricane, flood, zinc-fly, drought, economy pressure, everything.
But sickness?
Dat one require wisdom, not bravery.
Leptospirosis is preventable, treatable, and beatable—once we act before it escalate.
Protect yuhself.
Protect yuh pickney.
Protect yuh community.
If dis article help yuh understand di outbreak clearer,
drop a comment, share wid yuh family an friends, an spread awareness.
Somebody out deh might need it today.
Original Article Written by Juboy.
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