JAMAICA-Jamaica says dengue cases remain low.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaican government says dengue cases remain well below the epidemic threshold, with only 23 suspected and confirmed cases recorded in September, compared to the epidemic threshold of 257.

However, Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, in a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, said that while the country is not experiencing a dengue outbreak, it had recorded two deaths so far this year.

Tufton said the number of dengue cases has been below the normal epidemic threshold since September last year.

“This is well below the epidemic threshold of 257. At the same time, Jamaica is currently experiencing a notable increase in mosquito populations across multiple species, particularly nuisance mosquitoes, in and around domestic spaces.

“The recent shift from drought to intense rainfall has created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding,” The Health and Wellness Minister said, adding that while there is currently no significant rise in the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the dengue virus, “we do expect an increase in this disease-carrying type by the end of October into November”.

Tufton reminded legislators that dengue is endemic to Jamaica, and all four serotypes have been identified, causing outbreaks. The recent dengue outbreaks occurred in 2007, 2010, 2012/2013, 2016, 2018-2020, and 2023-2024, with increasing frequency noted over the period.

But he said the data from the National Surveillance Unit indicates that dengue fever activity is low as of the week ending October 11, 2025.

“Year-to-date, there have been 379 dengue cases for 2025, much fewer when compared to 1,819 for the same period last year. There were also two dengue deaths last year and two this year”.

Tufton said that while the historical dengue season is between September and January, peaking in October, the seasonal line for 2025 has not been exceeded as of October 11.

“Based on epidemiological surveillance data, the 2025/2026 dengue season is either delayed in onset, or the dengue season is a low activity season,” he added.