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The Ministry of Health and Wellness has assured Jamaicans that the current rise in mosquito activity and dengue cases remains under control. As of mid-October, only 23 dengue cases were recorded in September—well below the epidemic threshold of 257—while 379 cases have been reported for the year, a sharp decrease from 1,819 in 2024.
Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton, told Parliament that vector control measures have been intensified, with 81 percent of the Ministry’s national fleet and 84 percent of fogging machines now operational. Schools and densely populated communities are being prioritized for fogging exercises.
The Ministry’s Enhanced Vector Control Programme, launched in June 2025, has increased the number of permanent vector control workers by 131 percent, with nearly 500 officers deployed islandwide. Efforts are also underway to introduce the Sterile Insect Technique in collaboration with the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), which will see the release of sterile mosquitoes later this year.
Citizens are encouraged to assist by eliminating standing water, keeping their surroundings clean, and using repellents. Authorities maintain that collective vigilance will ensure continued control of mosquito-borne illnesses.