Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton says the dengue outbreak impacting Jamaica could last until the end of this year or early next year.

The outbreak was declared on Saturday, September 23, after cases for July and August passed the threshold.

Yesterday, Dr Tufton indicated that the number of presumed, suspected and confirmed dengue cases recorded across the island had risen to 1,117 at the end of September.

Speaking at a sitting of Parliament, the Health Minister noted that additional planning will be undertaken to handle the virus.

He said the Government is providing some 96 million dollars for mitigation works through the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Corporations.

The National Health Fund has also allocated $160 million to the National Works Agency for cleaning major drains in high-risk communities.

The National Solid Waste Management Authority is to get $75 million for the removal of bulky waste which forms breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that transmit dengue.

Meantime, reacting to the Minister’s announcement regarding the monetary allocations, Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western Mikael Phillips called for schools to receive more attention.

He cited the data which indicate that the 5 to 14-year-old age cohort, which constitutes school children continues to be the most impacted group.