Director of Environmental Health in the Ministry of Health, William Broughton, is reminding persons to remain vigilant to prevent a possible outbreak of dengue fever.

Speaking with JIS News, Broughton said community action will be integral to successfully preventing an outbreak of the virus in Jamaica, and called for persons to become inspectors of their own environs in order to detect and destroy all possible mosquito-breeding sites.

reduce havens

Outlining key preventative measures, he advised persons to keep house plants in damp soil instead of water, avoid over-watering potted plants and keep flower-pot saucers dry. He also asked that persons keep grass short and shrubbery well trimmed in order to reduce havens for adult mosquitoes.

"Anywhere, in and around the house, where water can settle, mosquitoes will lay their eggs and breed, so we are asking for everyone to be their own inspector, to search for these areas and destroy these breeding places," he said.

In addition, Broughton urged persons to cover all trash containers, ensure all drums, barrels and other containers used to store water are properly closed.

"Also, around the house, you may have old tyres, tins, bottles, coconut shells, anything in which rain water can settle, we are asking you to keep them out of the rain so they do not store water," he said.

Persons are also asked to keep drains and ditches clear of weeds and trash to allow water to flow freely, and to scout their communities for possible breeding sites and inform the relevant authorities so these areas can be cleaned.

Broughton said the ministry will be relying heavily on the assistance of agencies such as the National Water Commission, the parish councils, the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA) and the Social Development Commission (SDC) to clean and oil drains, and to educate persons about dengue-prevention measures.

The Ministry of Health remains on high alert for cases of dengue fever, following an outbreak and reported dengue-related deaths in two neighbouring Caribbean territories.

educational material

Public-education activities have been stepped up, with vector control officers visiting communities and health centres in all parishes to advise persons about the threat. Fliers and other educational material on preventing the breeding of mosquitoes are distributed at each session.

Broughton told JIS News that the Ministry has been distributing insecticides, oil and other vital resources to residents, while fogging is also being done.

Dengue fever is caused by a virus spread by the aedes aegypti mosquito. The health ministry is currently reviewing surveillance data to ascertain whether confirmed cases of dengue are above the endemic level.

Director, Disease Prevention and Control, Dr Sonia Copeland, said Jamaica has confirmed cases of dengue fever every year. "Once the number goes above the endemic level, we are at risk to having an epidemic," she explained.