TRACKING the Zika virus in Jamaica will be aided by the use of global media monitoring services. Managing Director of DRT Communications Ltd Danielle Terrelonge made the announcement recently, following an agreement with the Ministry of Health.

“The board and team at DRT felt it necessary to offer our media monitoring system as corporate citizens to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of all conversations happening in the media globally,” Terrelonge said. “Our system allows full tracking of any conversation happening across any media platform — radio, television, press, online, and social media.”

The agreement was inked on Friday, February 5 with the company offering the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Prime Minister global media monitoring services at no charge.

In light of the Zika virus spread, which has now been confirmed in Jamaica and since the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated it a public health emergency of international concern, the board of directors took the decision to support the Government, through the health ministry, to ensure they are aware, in real time, of the global conversation taking place about the virus.

“The most important thing when faced with a crisis is to have information readily available so that our clients are aware in real time about what is being said and most importantly having the information allows them to act expeditiously,” she said. “We see this as a small gesture of support to Jamaica’s fight against the Zika virus. Our operations are set up for global monitoring, including local and regional broadcast, press and digital media.”

Director of Communication and Public Relations at the Ministry of Health Stephanie Shaw Smith, expressed her gratitude to the company saying that the services will enhance the ministry’s ability to respond and provide clarification and correct information to the public in a timely manner.

“The Zika virus is new to us in Jamaica and the entire Caribbean region. Given that it is an emerging illness, the information on Zika will continuously change and so it is important that we are fully aware of the ongoing dialogue so that we can ensure that quick clarifications are made and information provided in a timely manner for people to be able to make informed decisions.” She added: “Individual responsibility is a major part of fighting Zika, so the more correct information we are able to arm people with, the better it will be for our collective response.”

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Prime Minister will receive daily reports from DRT Communications that hare every mention of the Zika virus and related reports coming out of the WHO, Pan American Health Oganisation and testing laboratories.

“Very importantly is that we are also able to track the conversation happening in the citizenry as individuals speak across social media platforms; this ensures that the Ministry of Health is aware of the tone and awareness levels of truth and facts about the virus and can develop and redefine their communication strategies accordingly,” she said.

DRT Communications launched its media monitoring services in February 2014 and currently serves clients in the private and public sectors across the Caribbean, for monitoring of their marketing and communications efforts.

Jamaica’s first case of the Zika virus was confirmed on January 29 in a four-year-old child from Portmore, St Catherine. The child has since recovered.