The Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department has started issuing health alert cards to residents of New Kingston. The cards state:"The KSA Health Department is conducting a malaria surveillance in your area. If you become ill with fever between November 8, 2006 and December 22, 2006 please visit your clinic or health care provider and present this card." There have been no reported cases of malaria in New Kingston as the outbreak has been localised to West Kingston and surrounding communities. The surveillance being conducted by the KSA Health Department is a precautionary measure aimed to quickly contain the spread of the disease should it spread outside of the areas already affected. The Health Department is urging anyone with symptoms of malaria to get tested by a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms of malaria include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Sweats
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Body aches
• General malaise

The disease is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito, which breeds in standing water. All efforts must be made to ensure that there are no breeding areas available for mosquitoes. Some suggestions from the Health Department are:

• Keep house plants in damp soil instead of water.
• Keep flower pot saucers dry and avoid over-watering potted plants.
• Empty and scrub flower vases twice weekly.
• Empty and wash pet's water container twice weekly.
• Keep refrigerator troughs dry.
• Punch holes in the bottom of tins before placing them in the garbage.
• Get rid of all old tyres, tins, bottles, plastic containers, coconut shells and anything in which rain water can settle.
• Cover trash containers to keep out water.
• Cover all drums, barrels, tanks, buckets and any other container that is used to store water.
• Repair leaky pipes and outdoor faucets.
• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.
• Keep drains and ditches clean of weeds and trash so water will drain properly.
• Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts) in yard.
• Clear roof gutters and eaves often to prevent water from settling.

Further information about malaria may be obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website. The KSA Health Department, located on Marescaux Road, may be contacted at 926-1550-2.