Malaria, major leading cause of morbidity and mortality in third world countries has been successfully eliminated from Jamaica since 1965. This, however, is being constantly challenged by lack of sustained vector control activities increased movement of global travellers to and from endemic countries to Jamaica given that the presence of vector “anopheles mosquitoes” that transmit malaria parasites. On December 2006 the first locally transmitted case of malaria was identified in Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica. Due to the impending threat to the country’s economy, such as travel advisory as Jamaica’s main foreign income comes from tourism especially in the western Jamaica, and to health care system. The Ministry of Health stepped up the prevention and control of malaria program. The objectives of the program are (a) early detection of cases and (b) prompt treatment of cases identified.
Objective
This paper evaluates the effectiveness of “active fever surveillance” during malaria outbreak (from December 2006 to June 2007) in western Jamaica.