Zoning In On Dengue Fever

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is increasing its efforts to control the spread of Dengue Fever, as there has been a higher than usual number of cases reported. While Dengue cases have been reported in all parishes, confirmed cases have been detected in Kingston & St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Westmoreland, Portland, and St. Ann. While the Dengue virus has been present in Jamaica since 1977, the Type 2 strain has not been predominant in the population since 2010, which puts the island at a higher risk of an outbreak. We discussed this concern with Sherine Huntley-Jones, the Medical Entomologist and Manager of the Vector Control Programme at the Ministry of Health and Wellness.