Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever appeals to the public to take measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites throughout the country after Saturday’s torrential rainfall.
Residents and business leaders play a key role by continually being active in taking measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
“Saturday evening’s rain event brought more than six inches of rainfall to the country. What is very important is that each person and business takes measures to eliminate possible mosquito breeding sites in their yard and business premises free of areas of standing water.
“We have a collective responsibility as a country to protect our economic well-being,” Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever said on Sunday.
Residents and visitors are reminded to protect themselves especially when out during dusk and dawn hours by using mosquito repellent or wear proper clothing to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
The Collective Prevention Services, an agency of the Ministry of Public Health calls for daily actions to eliminate mosquito’s by checking containers such as buckets and water tanks for larvae and eliminate the breeding source. If there aren’t any containers with water for mosquitoes to lay the larvae there won’t be any adult mosquitoes.
Dengue Fever and Chikungunya are transmitted by the female vector Aedes Aegypti mosquito. 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 adult mosquito.
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 visit the Facebook Collective Prevention Services or email us at surveillance@sintmaartengov.org