Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is calling on the population to use the current Hurricane Pre-Clean-Up campaign to remove mosquito breeding grounds in order to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
This activity is twofold in that as the garbage is removed it also contributes to the elimination of mosquito breeding sites and therefore impacting the mosquito population. If there are no containers with water for mosquitoes to lay the larvae there will be no adult mosquitoes.
Make use of the clean-up efforts by waste disposal companies in your districts to get rid of possible breeding sites keeping your environment mosquito free. Remove items that you no longer need that are in your yard and can hold water becoming a breeding ground for mosquitos.
Persons are recommended to keep their homes, yards, neighborhoods and work environment free from mosquito breeding sites.
Homeowners can reduce the number of areas where adult mosquitoes can find shelter by cutting down weeds adjacent to the house foundation and in their yards, and mowing the lawn regularly.
Check around construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements to ensure that proper backfilling and grading is realized to prevent drainage problems which can be a source for standing water.
Dengue Fever is transmitted by the female vector Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The clean-up will prevent the mosquito from finding a place to lay its eggs. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is distinguished by its markings. The body of the mosquito has alternate black and white horizontal stripes. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito lays her eggs in clear (clean) stagnant water.
Within eight days the mosquito can complete its life cycle from egg, to larvae to pupae and to and adult mosquito.
An increase in the mosquito population puts residents at risk. For information about dengue fever prevention measures, you can call CPS at 542-2078 or 542-3003.