Additional field workers to be recruited for vector control activities

By Nakinskie Robinson  

 

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says additional field workers will be recruited to conduct vector elimination activities across Jamaica as the government works to prevent disease outbreaks following Hurricane Beryl.

 

Dr. Tufton said the expansion is necessary to provide greater coverage across the country.

 

He said the field workers will be deployed to the areas most affected by the weather event. 

 

"We intend to engage an additional 400 vector control workers to bring the current number of temporary workers to 1,000. They will be assigned to high risk communities to identify and treat breeding sites. In addition, they will assist with the fogging activity, the laricidal activity that takes place...[to] go out in communities, visit homes, inspect water catchment areas, identify the mosquito breeding sites, and then treat with them," he said. 

 

Fogging has also been intensified, with the activity to take place seven days per week - mornings and evenings - mainly in urban centres and high risk communities. 

 

"We are covering some 18 to 20 communities per fogging session and 30 for larvicidal work. The other response is to expand the fleet of foggers outside of the government contingent. We are engaging private pest control operators. Up to this point, we have been targeting approximately 10 private contractors over the next two months or so until we can get the population to a level that the ministry's team can manage," the minister disclosed. 

 

He was speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning.

 

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, said the summer period between July and August are historically the peak periods for dengue cases.

 

Some 1,500 dengue cases and one death have been recorded since the start of the year.