The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WHILE Tropical Storm Alberto does not pose a threat to the Bahamas, officials are monitoring a low pressure area forming over the Caribbean Sea, forecaster Ian McKenzie said yesterday.

Isolated showers are expected throughout the week, but Mr McKenzie said the public will have a better idea of exactly what is coming their way by Wednesday.

He said: "When I say forming, I am speaking in terms of thunder storms and torrential down pour, not in terms of it forming into a tropical storm.

"Alberto however is not a threat to us at this time."

Weather officials said the centre of Alberto had weakened and was located 90 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina.

A statement issued by the department said: "Alberto is moving towards the west-southwest near six miles per hour but is expected to slow down and move a little through Monday. A northeastward acceleration is anticipated throughout Monday night and Tuesday. On this track the centre of Alberto is forecast to remain offshore of the Carolina and Georgia Coasts."

With less than two weeks to the official start of hurricane season, forecaster Greg Thompson said the heavy rainfall of the last few weeks is unusual.

He said the rainy season and the hurricane season usually correlate.

Fears have also surfaced that another dengue outbreak could emerge this year, but Department of Environmental Services director Melanie McKenzie said precautionary work, including fogging, began months ago.

She said: "Since January, we've been doing prep work, including fogging, which we do everyday when it doesn't rain. We've also been educating people on how to make their yards and homes less of a breeding ground for the Aedes Aegypti - the mosquito which transmits dengue fever."

As mosquitoes thrive in densely populated areas, Ms McKenzie said her team has specifically targeted those places.

"We've gone to residences that have pools, schools, corporate and public places where breeding areas have been identified," she said.

She urged home owners to constantly check their yards, dispose of trash and empty containers that collect water.

Almost two weeks ago, Ministry of Health officials confirmed that several incidents of the disease were reported in New Providence. They stressed, however, that the cases were sporadic.

There were 205 confirmed cases of dengue fever in 2011 and 7,200 suspected cases.