THE DEPARTMENT of Correctional Services has said it is taking precautionary measures to control what could be a possible spread of dengue fever after some inmates have been detected with the illness.

Commissioner of Corrections, Colonel Sean Prendergast, said seven cases have been detected and the patients are being treated.

"Over the past week, we have had only seven suspected cases of dengue out of a population of 4,500, so it is not an outbreak," he said.

"We are taking all the precautionary measures and the persons are responding well to the treatment," he added.

Prendergast did not disclose the name of the facilities where the virus was detected.

But sources told The Gleaner that some cases of dengue fever cases were identified at Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, Kingston.

Jamaica is currently experiencing an outbreak of dengue fever. The Ministry of Health has reported a total of 2,198 suspected cases of dengue fever as at October 20.

This is compared to 458 for the corresponding period last year, and 2,709 for the same period in 2010 which saw an outbreak.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com