Jamaica's health minister, Christopher Tufton, says leptospirosis cases and deaths are dropping after cleanup crews hit the streets. The government has already treated over 500 high-risk communities, and dengue plus flu numbers are sitting below normal levels for the season.
Tufton told people not to get lazy about prevention because the disease still poses a real danger. He wants the ministry to push harder on mosquito control through the holidays and get danger ratings under 25 in sketchy neighborhoods. The Western Region alone handed out 400,000 chlorine tablets to communities dealing with contaminated water.
The minister credits earlier investments in vehicles, foggers, and extra field workers for keeping mosquito-borne diseases under control. Officials keep reminding people to gear up during cleanup and stay away from floodwater.
Tufton told people not to get lazy about prevention because the disease still poses a real danger. He wants the ministry to push harder on mosquito control through the holidays and get danger ratings under 25 in sketchy neighborhoods. The Western Region alone handed out 400,000 chlorine tablets to communities dealing with contaminated water.
The minister credits earlier investments in vehicles, foggers, and extra field workers for keeping mosquito-borne diseases under control. Officials keep reminding people to gear up during cleanup and stay away from floodwater.
