Health Concerns in Portland

As the rainy season approaches, there are concerns about the lack of effective garbage disposal measures in place in Portland. The matter has become one of urgency as rodents multiply in the town of Port Antonio.

Effective garbage disposal is again being discussed in Portland, as matters have reportedly worsened over the past month. Recently at a parish council meeting, the Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis said the health department is concerned about this because the garbage pileup has been overflowing onto the main road of several communities for an extended period of time, attracting rodents.

On the matter of vector control, Lewis says the Ministry of Health and Wellness will be restarting the vector control program, which is expected to begin on June 1. The program will engage 25 vector control workers, in Portland, and is being reinstated to control the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the parish. She is imploring residents to eliminate the mosquito breeding sites. 

There have been two reported cases of dengue in the parish this year. Watch the report below:

Reporter: Velonique Bowen

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