In light of the back to school period, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell Forrester is appealing to school administrators to ensure that their institutions are free of mosquito breeding sites to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

“We want to ensure that the schools do not have areas that are at risk for mosquito breeding. Young children are susceptible to dengue as well as adults and the only way to reduce the spread is to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.  The Disease is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and not by person to person contact,” she says.

She explains further that individuals may get dengue fever if this mosquito bites an infected person and then bites them.  “Schools should ensure that areas in and around the institutions are adequately bushed and the grass cut. They should also get rid of mosquito breeding sites by looking for anything in which water can settle and either cover it, keep the area dry, clean it regularly, fill it with soil or sand, punch holes into it, recycle or properly dispose of it,” says the Chief Medical Officer.

She also advises that teachers could engage in short activities with children to get them involved in searching for mosquito breeding sites and destroying them. “Involving them in the process will increase their awareness and help them to carry the positive behaviour to their homes,” she says.

Jamaica is presently experiencing an increase in the number of cases of dengue fever. This comes after the Pan American Health Organization issued two alerts for dengue as a result of outbreaks in Central American and some Caribbean countries.

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

Individuals who wish to obtain more information on dengue may call the Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre at 1888-663-5683 (1888 ONE LOVE).

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Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561