KINGSTON (Jamaica), Dec 16: A senior officer in the Jamaican Ministry of Health said the Jamaican leg of the 2007 World Cup cricket tournament would not be affected by the malaria outbreak in the Caribbean island.

Dr Marion Bullock-Ducasse, of the Ministry of Health, told the Jamaica Observer newspaper, “In terms of the control measures that we have outlined, we do anticipate that the situation will be controlled long before that.”

Bullock-Ducasse also chairs the International Cricket Council (ICC) Medical, Health and Anti-Doping Directorate.

This, she claims, has been communicated to Cricket World Cup.

Bullock-Ducasse, who was speaking to reporters during a press conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre, said the ministry expects to strengthen the quarantine staff at all ports of entry in the island in order to enhance the screening capabilities.

She also noted the persons coming from countries where malaria is a problem are issued health alert cards upon arrival to the island.

The World Cup is being held in the Caribbean for the first time and will take place from March 13-April 28. A record 16 teams are competing with matches in Jamaica, St Kitts, St Lucia, Trinidad, Guyana, Grenada and Barbados. —AFP