Morant Bay, St. Thomas:

The parish of St. Thomas has been placed on high alert, according to chief public health inspector for the parish, Charles Lewis.

Mr. Lewis, who was representing the Medical Officer of Health at a local Board of Health meeting in Morant Bay last Thursday, pointed to increased efforts to bring malaria under control. He said "measures being adapted are wide and varied and is (being used) to strengthen our capacity to handle the situation." He noted that "the department has been assisted with a motor vehicle to carry out fogging and this is to supplement the intensive lavasidal programme already on the way."

Mr. Lewis, while remaining very guarded, told the meeting that there were three confirmed cases of malaria in the parish. He quickly advised that locals should not accommodate illegal aliens, whom he said, were contributing to the spread of the disease.

Malaria cases have also been identified in Kingston, St. Catherine and St. Elizabeth.

- Arthur Green