Health Minister Horace Dalley, while addressing Parliament yesterday, gave the following update on the malaria outbreak in Jamaica.

Malaria strain is plasmodium falciporum, most dangerous strain.

21 cases now confirmed.

16 females affected, five males. Four are children.

Ages range from five to 72; average age 30.

Dates of onset between September 27 and November 30.

Residents in affected communities should:

Avoid or limit outdoor activities between nightfall and dawn.

Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks outdoors between nightfall and dawn.

Avoid wearing dark clothes at nights.

Use an insect repellent, containing the chemical deet, on exposed skin.

Close windows before dark, and keep them closed throughout the night.

Sleep under mosquito net.

Health Centres persons can visit:

Kingston and St. Andrew

Maxfield Park Health Centre

Denham Town Health Centre

Hagley Park Health Centre

Comprehensive Health Centre

St. Catherine

St. Jago Health Centre

Sydenham Health Centre

How is malaria transmitted?

Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous blood meal taken on an infected person.

When a mosquito bites, a small amount of blood is taken in which the microscopic malaria parasites are contained. The parasites grow and mature in the mosquito's gut for a week or more, then travel to the mosquito's salivary glands. When the mosquito next takes a blood meal, these parasites mix with the saliva and are injected into the bite.

- Source: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.