Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter

Dalley

Local health experts have theorised a link between the recent outbreak of malaria and the illicit drugs-for-guns trade between Haiti and Jamaica. Furthermore, the experts have sounded an alarm that failure to thwart the thriving trade could result in another outbreak of malaria and other communicable diseases.

An official from the Ministry of Health, who requested anonymity, told The Sunday Gleaner that the ministry believes the locals who travel to Haiti via boat often return from the impoverished nation with more than guns.

The health ministry source explained that while empirical evidence wass not yet available, there was anecdotal data linking the recent spread of malaria to the illegal drugs-for-guns trade with Haiti.

Grave threat

Furthermore, the country is exposed to the possibility of an outbreak of another disease known as filiariasis, which is also prevalent in Haiti.

The culex mosquito, which is endemic to Jamaica, is known to transmit filariasis, a parasitic disease affecting the body's lymph system and which can reduce its ability to fight infections.

Unlike the anopheles mosquitoe, which breeds in clean water, the culex mosquito is bred in drains or any receptacle of contaminated water. Considering Jamaica's drainage problems, the official fears that filiariasis could spread rapidly.

Health Minister, Horace Dalley, has confirmed there is a grave threat to the health of the nation as a result of the illicit trade. "It is a clear and present danger to the public health of the country," he noted.

However, he has pledged that collaborative action between the health and national security ministries will diffuse the threat, adding that he has already held meetings with National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips to devise "strategies to deal with the issue".

Minister Dalley indicated that the country's waters, which the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard is mandated to protect are being breached with regularity.

"A lot of people are here from Haiti and Honduras. They are coming regularly (as) they are making three to four trips per week," he revealed.

But the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) says it is unable to respond to the minister's charge of multiple illegal trips to the country via the country's waters which it is supposed to be protecting.

"At this time, we are not able to respond to the statement attributed to Minister Dalley," Major Charlene Steer, civil military affairs officer at the JDF, told The Sunday Gleaner.

The minister said that the Haitians and Hondurans are illegally entering the country via the south coast at points such as Old Harbour Bay and Rocky Point. He admitted that Clarendon, where he holds his seat as Member of Parliament, is one of the two most problematic parishes.

"The biggest danger we face is in Clarendon and St. Elizabeth," he said.

Stop illegal movement

Minister Dalley also pointed out that intelligence gathered has confirmed a report carried by The Sunday Gleaner last week, stating that illegal aliens are here working on ganja farms.

At the same time, The Sunday Gleaner source added that the ministry is convinced that the recent spread of malaria, a disease that was eradicated from Jamaica almost 50 years ago, was brought into the country.

"It (malaria) was imported. It had to be imported because it was not here. As to who brought it here and how long it has been here are the questions that need to be answered," the official said, noting that better policing of the country's shores must precede another successful eradication of the disease.

"To stop malaria, we have to stop the illegal movement of people," he aded.

The highly-placed source also disclosed that getting information from some infected persons regarding their movements is proving to be a formidable feat. When quizzed about his whereabouts, a teenager who had malaria, told health officials that he went on a boat that he thought took him to Montego Bay. It is believed that he went to Haiti.

In another instance, a man who it is believed resides in Hellshire, St. Catherine, fled when he heard that the officials from the ministry were coming to interview him.

Hospitals and health centres were put on watch and the man eventually turned up at a health facility in Portland when the malaria was getting the better of him.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com