The Ministry of Health Issues Health Alert
The Ministry of Health has recently identified four cases of malaria in Kingston and St. Catherine. A thorough and intensive investigation is now underway to establish whether these cases have been imported or contracted locally.
The measures being undertaken include house-to-house surveys in the affected areas to identify cases, elimination of mosquito breeding sites and fogging with insecticide in specific areas.
The Ministry of Health is taking these cases very seriously as Jamaica eradicated endemic Malaria over 50 years ago, and has only experienced a number of imported cases through visitors from countries with malaria.
The Ministry of Health advices that all persons with recent fever, and/or, “on and off” fever should see their doctor or visit the nearest health centre in order to rule out possible malaria infection. Doctors and other health providers need to be alert to rule out malaria in patients presented with fever.
At the same time the Minister of Health, the Hon. Horace Dalley assures the public that all will be done to safe guard the health of the nation. He also calls on communities to cooperate with the health workersas they carry out inspections and vector control activities in their area.
The Minister of Health has also instructed that a number of health centres be opened in Kingston and St. Catherine over this weekend to facilitate persons who experience malaria-like symptoms. The health centres that will be opened are:
Kingston
Maxfield Park Health Centre
Hagley Park Health Centre
Comprehensive Health Centre
St. Catherine
St. Jago Health Centre
Sydenham Health Centre
Malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The symptoms of malaria include fever, flu-like symptom with chills, headaches, muscle ache and tiredness.
Contact:
Ministry of Health, Public Relations
Tel: 967-1561/872-3880
Dr. Marion Bullock-DuCasse
Team Leader
366-1111
Dr. Peter Figueroa
Chief Epidemiologist, MOH
Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller
Director, Health Promotion and Protection Division/ 877-5846
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