VIDEO: Dengue cases jump to 1,215

The health ministry is reporting that the number of suspected cases of dengue fever has soared to 1,215 up to September 29 this year compared with 887 last year.

However, the number of cases is well below the 3,202 which were registered in 2010 when there was an outbreak.

Meanwhile, the ministry says there have been five suspected deaths with one confirmed via autopsy.



The Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson, says the ministry has increased its strategies to reduce the mosquito population and to limit the impact of the virus across the island in light of the increase in cases of dengue fever.

The ministry also says it also plans to undertake major education campaigns, extensive fogging exercises and treatment and destruction of breeding sites across sections of the island at a cost of $25.5 million.

radio@gleanerjm.com