Health ministry mum on malaria cases

Health officials are remaining mum on a second case of malaria imported to Jamaica.

Our sources say a male in Mandeville, who is infected with the illness is now being treated at the Mandeville Regional Hospital.

It is reported that he recently travelled to Africa.

Last week, The Gleaner reported that the other person infected with the virus who lives in St Ann also recently travelled to Africa.

Last evening, the chief medical officer Dr Michael Coombs and Dr Beverley Wright, the Medical Officer of Health for Manchester were tight-lipped.

In declining to comment, both referred to a statement issued by the health minister last week after the first case was reported.

The director of emergency, disaster management and special services in the Health Ministry, Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse also declined to comment.

In a release last week, the health ministry sought to assure that there was no malaria outbreak and no reason for Jamaicans to panic.

The ministry said there has been no locally-transmitted case of malaria since 2009.

However in 2012 there were five imported cases.

Tips on Malaria

Malaria, cannot be transmitted from person to person.

It is spread when the Anopheles mosquito bites an infected person and then bites others.

Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are also possible.

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