Building a Better Jamaica

Health departments to work with school authorities in dengue fever fight
Jamaica Observer Thursday, September 02, 2010

THE Ministry of Health is urging school administrators to ensure that school grounds are free of mosquito breeding sites.

Health minister Rudyard Spencer, in a release to the media, said the ministry will be working with schools to provide guidance and support for mosquito prevention and control activities.

He said all efforts must be taken to ensure that children returning to school enjoy a healthy environment.

Spencer also urged school authorities to contact their parish health department if they need additional assistance to identify and eliminate breeding sites and adult mosquitoes.

“I had instructed the health departments to intensify their vector control activities. Any assistance that is needed to reduce the mosquito population can be sought from the health department. The ministry and its relevant agencies remain on high alert for dengue,” he said.

Young children as well as adults are susceptible to dengue fever. There is no person to person transmission. Instead the virus is spread when the aedes aegypti mosquito bites an infected person and then another.

“Preventing the breeding of the aedes aegypti mosquito is the only way of reducing the spread of dengue since there is no other way of transmission except through the bite of a mosquito carrying the virus. I therefore appeal to school administrators to undertake the necessary activities to ensure that mosquitoes are not breeding on their compound,” Spencer said.

Common symptoms of dengue fever include sudden onset of high fever with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, bone or joint pain, skin rash and vomiting or feeling nauseous.

If you have fever and two or more of these symptoms, you may have been infected with dengue.

Individuals who wish to obtain more information on dengue may call the ministry at 1888-663-5683 (1888 ONE LOVE) daily, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm.