MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton is warning that the current drought conditions being experienced in Jamaica may be playing a role in a potential dengue outbreak.

The minister’s comments came at the end of a visit to Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay on Friday when he highlighted that Jamaica could be facing a new cycle of a dengue fever outbreak.

“We have been having a drought, and that has given rise to an increase in vector activity and mosquito activity — and you have the Aedes aegypti, of course, which is the carrier of dengue,” Tufton told media personnel.

Since last year Jamaica has been experiencing drought conditions for an extended period, coupled with intense heat. In light of that development, Tufton said the ministry has moved to test individuals and to determine the type of dengue they have.

Further, Tufton said the ministry is working with external agencies in a bid to determine the extent of the problem.

“We are collaborating with the [Caribbean Public Health Agency] CARPHA, and there are some concerns that are emerging,” he said.

Additionally, he explained that while he doesn’t want to create unnecessary panic there are concerns about how this is taking shape, and he is therefore urging members of the public to be careful that their activities do not exacerbate the situation.

“I am awaiting some additional tests to comment publicly and, of course, to brief the honourable prime minister and the Cabinet on what the experts are saying. But I would issue a word of caution, maybe warning, to the populace to be mindful of the dengue threat of the mosquito population,” he remarked.

He used the opportunity to advise that the actions of individuals who may seek to alleviate the challenges brought on by the drought could actually actually be contributing to the return of the vector-borne ailment.

“What happens is that in the drought people store water, and if you don’t store properly then it creates a breeding site,” he pointed out.

But he was, however, quick to point out that while the concern continues to manifest itself, there is a sense that the situation will be better handled, based on what is now in place.

“In terms of our vector units, our fogging machines, we did a massive recruiting during the last outbreak — a few years back — and so we had vehicles renewed, we had vehicle-mounted foggers,” he explained. “We had the community health aides which we hired go into the field; a number of them are still there. So, we have an infrastructure that is a lot better than it was before,” he further highlighted.