Do your part to stem malaria

The Ministry of Health is warning Jamaicans to take the necessary precautions when travelling to malaria-endemic countries or regions.

In a release, the ministry said yesterday that Jamaica has worked hard to be malaria free and citizens must play their part to keep it that way.

The reminder came as the ministry expressed condolences to the family of Alfons Klem, who died from complications associated with malaria.

Klem, a German who resided in Mandeville, Manchester, died last week at hospital.

His case was one of three imported cases of malaria since the start of the year.

He was reportedly infected with the disease while on a trip to an African country.

Jamaicans are being urged to check with the ministry or their parish health department to find out what measures need to be taken for the country to which they plan to travel.

Malaria is caused by the malaria parasite and is spread when the female Anopheles mosquito bites an infected person and then bites others.

There is no direct person-to-person transmission.

Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are also possible.