Jamaica fears that malaria may become a health issue after a recent scare. Health authorities said that the island remains malaria free even though two imported cases had been identified in November.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness said Jamaica has not recorded any local transmission of the potentially fatal disease.
The disease produces chills, headache, a high fever, and other flu-like symptoms and the malaria parasite is transmitted to humans by the infected bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Jamaica has been able to prevent the re-introduction of malaria by public health surveillance, identifying imported cases and putting in place the necessary control measures to prevent local spread, even in the presence of imported malaria.
Meanwhile, the Ministry is cautioning travellers to regions where malaria is present to take steps to prevent a reintroduction of the disease on the island.
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