The recent malaria outbreak has all Jamaicans concerned, many worried and some (living or working in cluster areas where the disease has been positively identified) in a heightened state of anxiety. No doubt the Government is afraid, not only for the health and welfare of our people, but also for the deleterious impact that malaria, can have on our economy in general and our tourist industry, and the upcoming Cricket World Cup in particular.

Jamaica successfully eradicated malaria in December 1961, and in 1965 we were formally declared malaria-free. We, however, live in a global village, a world that is far from being malaria-free and we are situated in a geographic region well known for endemic malaria. Travel for business (legal or otherwise), pleasure and for the pursuit of political asylum facilitates transport of the plasmodium parasite responsible for the infection from one country to another. One hundred and seven countries worldwide are considered risk areas. With the exception of three South American countries, the region harbours the malaria parasite. Some 3.2 billion people live in infected areas and between 350 million-500 million are currently infected throughout the world.

Unknown to most of us, several countries (even the United States of America) experience malaria cases from time to time. The key to control is ongoing surveillance, prompt reporting, rapid investigation, case definition within suspected areas, treatment/eradication of parasites and public education.

The Ministry of Health was quick off the mark when the first case was identified and confirmed on November 11. Since then, we have a total of 30 confirmed cases. Although two cases were linked to Sydenham in St. Catherine, they were traced back to Union Gardens and Trench Town. The other cluster area is Denham Town.

The ministry has pulled out all the stops and recruited health professionals from St. Thomas, Clarendon, St. Ann, St. Mary, the University Hospital of the West Indies and even retired public health officers. The National Chest Hospital, the Bustamante Hospital for Children, the Kingston Public Hospital and the University Hospital of the West Indies have all set aside beds should the need arise. The Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department, the St. Catherine Health Department and the South East Regional Health Authority are performing herculean tasks and working day and night to contain the malaria threat.

As with almost every serious or potentially serious situation, there is a social aspect that craves attention. Jamaica's vector control programme was slashed in 1986 by the then government. And, the depressed areas in which the anopheles mosquitoes are breeding have always been in dire need of sanitation. We must always see to the welfare of the least among us, because it will come back to haunt the rest of us.