The St Catherine Public Health Department has outlined that an imported case of malaria was detected in the parish on Friday November 4.
Acting Public Health Inspector for the parish Denece Douglas, alluded that since the discovery of the case, the health team has instituted preventative measures to curb the spread of the virus.
One of the preventative measures listed was increased fogging in the area where the case was discovered as well as surrounding communities in St Catherine.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the St. Catherine Public Health and Sanitation Committee Sydney Rose has issued an appeal to the Public Health Department to become more proactive in its approach to notify the municipal corporation about illnesses of concern.
Rose argued that the department took a reactive approach in its efforts to inform the councilors of the malaria case which led to the delayed fogging.
“It should be before today. A simple phone call the public should have been advised earlier so they could take the necessary precaution by ridding their surroundings of mosquito breeding sites.” He exclaimed.
As such he suggests that the department assume a proactive approach rather than reactive.
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. Symptoms include high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness.
