Alert: Health Ministry Investigating ‘Cluster’ of Malaria Cases In South Trinidad

The Ministry of Health said in a Media Release today (Wednesday 2nd April, 2025) that it is currently investigating a cluster of Malaria cases in South Trinidad. As of today, the Ministry notes that five (5) cases have been confirmed, “including the primary source,” which brings the total number of cases for 2025 to five (5); as the Ministry said there were no other confirmed cases for the year thus far.

As Trinidad and Tobago is not endemic for Malaria, the majority of cases confirmed each year are imported and/or introduced. Over the period 2015 to 2024, there are said to have been 153 confirmed cases, which averages to fifteen (15) cases per year.

In its Media Release today, the Ministry stated that the five (5) confirmed cases are “in a well-defined geographic area,” adding that the following field work has been conducted by the Insect Vector Control Division (IVCD), after the identification of the first case on 27th March, 2025:

Vector Control Methods

• The homes of all identified cases, as well as those in at least a 1-mile radius were sprayed via truck-mounted Ultra Low Volume (ULV), to immediately kill the adult mosquitoes;
• Hand-held thermal fogging was conducted around the homes (this is conducted in areas where ULV was not possible);
• Internal Residual Spraying (IRS) with longer-lasting insecticide effect was conducted within homes (the effect of which lasts approximately three months);
• Perfocal inspection of homes was also conducted to identify potential breeding sites of the Anopheles species of mosquitoes.

Malaria Screening

• All necessary public health screening protocols, including Contact Tracing, have been conducted.

Symptoms

• Early symptoms of Malaria include fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, which may start within ten (10) to fifteen (15) days of being bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Persons experiencing any of these symptoms should visit their nearest health facility.

According to the Ministry, the following high-risk groups, e.g., persons living in and around forested areas, farmers, hunters, members of the protective services who visits these areas, hikers and environmentalists, are advised to take the necessary precautions:

• Wear long-sleeved, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing when possible;
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping;
• Use insect repellents, coils and vaporizers, where applicable.

The Ministry said it will continue to keep the public updated as necessary.

Please be guided accordingly. 

More on this as it becomes available. 

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