Sacha Walters, Staff Reporter

Mosquito repellent. - norman grindley

Some citizens are stocking up on products to repel or kill mosquitos out of fear of catching malaria.

On Friday the Ministry of Health issued a report that there were four cases of malaria in the island and up to Monday the number was pushed up to 13.

The affected persons came from the Kingston 12, 13 and 14 area. The affected communities included Delacree Park, Denham Town, Trench Town and Tivoli Gardens. Additional cases were found in Sydenham Villas, St. Catherine.

When THE STAR visited People's Basic Basket Supermarket on Charles Street, a worker said people were buying more of these items.

"We're out of stock now," she said in reference to mosquito destroyer coils. "Those things go fast," she said. People also use insecticides, but these are still in stock.

Dirty water

One resident along Princess Street said he sprays his house with insecticide and turns on the fan for sometime before entering his house.

Ravineta Williams from the Denham Town community has dirty water running near her house.

"We get hell from them," she said in reference to the mosquitoes. She says she spends approximately $200 per week on mosquito destroyer and using the fan does little to alleviate them.

She said she has been saying for a long time that the water would have health repercussions.

Further inside the community THE STAR spotted a team from the South East Regional Health Authority doing inspections.

Another resident and owner of a shop in Denham Town said people are not purchasing more 'destroyer'.

She avoids the product herself because of sinus problems. "Mi use the fan fi blow dem (mosquitoes) out," she said. The area was fogged on Sunday she said but that also poses a problem. "Mi caan't tek the scent," she said.

Another shop owner on Spanish Town Road said she was experiencing a spike in her sales for mosquito destroyers.

"Yeah man it sell especially in the night," she said she sells a Vape coil for $7 and a Dragon coil for $6.

She purchased a half case of the product about two weeks ago and she is almost out and this is not usually the situation.

Megamart Wholesale Club on Upper Waterloo Road has not seen an increase in the purchase of coils but there is an increase in the purchase of mosquito candles.

The week of the 19-25 of November they sold 6 candles. From the 26-30 they sold 19 candles, but between the 1-4, 30 were sold.

Jamaica eradicated malaria more than 50 years ago. The symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches and tiredness.