Residents are urged to step up mosquito elimination measures
Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, says that a second cycle of emergency mosquito fogging is almost completed with several districts left to do.
The pending districts are: L.B. Scott Road, Cape Bay, Pelican, Simpson Bay and Beacon Hill.
Those that have been completed in the second cycle in 2013 are: Belvedere, Dutch Quarter, Middle Region, Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond, Hope Estate, Madame Estate, Pond Island, Point Blanche, Philipsburg, Fort Willem, Belair, Cay Hill, Saunders, South Reward, St. Peters, Cole Bay and Low Lands.
The fogging exercise is a joint effort by the Governments of both sides of the island in fighting mosquitoes that carry the Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, the latter, a dengue-like sickness.
Residents are strongly advised to continue to step up measures at homes and businesses to mitigate the rise in the viruses carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Aedes agypti mosquitoes lay their eggs in clean stagnant water. The diseases attributed to the mosquito are dengue and chikungunya. In order to mitigate the number of cases, elimination of mosquito breeding places and preventing mosquitoes from feeding are priority actions.
Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever, ‘Get Checked" campaign, is in line with the urgent appeal for residents, and business owners, to check-in and around their homes, and businesses in order to reduce breeding sites of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, and making them mosquito-free zones.
Fogging is one intervention of several, and the main measure is for every household and business to take action by removing potential mosquito breeding spots in and around their premises on a daily basis. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is most active at dawn and dusk.
Homeowners during the time of the spraying should open all doors and windows. Dishes, bowls, pots and pans, fish tanks and bird cages should be covered. Stay away from open windows and doors during the spraying.
An increase in the mosquito population puts all residents and businesses at risk. Call for information on the Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites and respective preventive measures at 542-2078 or 542-3003 or email su**********@si************.org. Consult your physician to ensure proper diagnosis, registration, treatment and follow-up.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever