The Health Ministry has indicated a staggering increase in dengue cases across the island since the start of the year. In a release, the Ministry stated that Jamaica has recorded approximately 60 cases so far.

The virus is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread to all regions of the World Health Organization in recent years. Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus.

 These mosquitoes are also vectors of chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, with local variations in risk influenced by climate parameters as well as social and environmental factors.

As such, Director of Environmental Health Everton Baker noted that the Ministry will be monitoring the situation and also increase fogging in each parish.

Baker is also urging householders to rid their surroundings of mosquito breeding sites as a preventative measure.