ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Health personnel at the St Elizabeth Health Department are on top of efforts to prevent the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases as the parish’s Aedes index climbs to 10 per cent.

Medical Expert at the St Elizabeth Health Department, Dr Carol Hamilton, said the index is up from six per cent before Hurricane Melissa swept through the parish on October 28 last year.

Dr Hamilton was addressing the monthly meeting of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, held in Santa Cruz on Thursday.

The Aedes index measures the percentage of homes with mosquito breeding sites and is used globally to assess the risk of diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya.

Dr Hamilton said despite the increase, dengue cases remain below the alert threshold, noting that it is a sign that ongoing control measures are proving effective in preventing outbreaks.

“Our environmental health team has been out. We have been fogging twice daily, and there’s a schedule. We also have a health education team out there to spread the word and to encourage persons to be aware of their environment,” she pointed out.

She added that these efforts are being reinforced by advising residents on practical steps to reduce mosquito breeding, such as proper water storage and the disposal of containers that collect water.

The parish also dealt with a leptospirosis outbreak about two weeks after the category-five system passed through in October 2025. That problem has since eased, with recent data showing a steady decline in cases, according to Dr Hamilton.

Residents are also being reminded that the flu season is here, with some cases already reported.

Dr Hamilton is urging individuals, especially the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, to wear masks in crowded areas and to keep sick children at home.

Flu vaccines are available at all operational health centres across the parish.

Dr Hamilton pointed out that the St Elizabeth Health Department is managing under challenging conditions, following widespread damage caused by the hurricane.

“Our offices at Black River were destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Melissa and as such, we are at a Santa Cruz facility. It is not as convenient as you would want, but we are pushing ahead,” she said.

Dr Hamilton  also noted that 10 of  the health centres were destroyed across the parish, including Aberdeen, Elderslie, Maggotty, Black River, and Burnt Savanna.

“However, we’re still functioning from these health centres with the help of tarpaulins and tents on site,” she added.