GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Mosquito control is considered an essential health service, and the Collective Prevention Service’s (CPS) Vector Control Team was out surveying areas while adhering to current social distancing and safety guidance protocols.
The Vector Control Team will commence with district area assessment starting in the week of October 12 in the following areas: Philipsburg, Over the Bank, Point Blanche, Oyster Pond, and Guana Bay.
Recently the CPS Vector Control Team finished the first round of inspection. In total, the team inspected 933 premises, of which 235 houses were breeding mosquito, meaning that one in every four houses was found positive with mosquito larvae.
Of the 2005 wet containers inspected, 582 were found positive.
Among the most common breeding sites during this round of inspection are drums, tires, water tanks, and artificial containers used by families and individuals.
These artificial containers such as Styrofoam cups, food-boxes, plastic bins, flowerpot saucers, etc. can hold water and were found lying around in the tenant’s yards.
In all the potential breeding sites, the drums and tires came out as the most common (preferred) among all the wet containers with 52% and 30% successively.
Residents are requested to cooperate with the Vector Control Team to remedy any issues that may arise and are requested to conduct a general cleanup of their premises.
CPS Vector Control Team expressed the need to motivate the public to dispose of any bulky waste, which includes fridges, stoves, furniture, tires, containers because these items can provide potential breeding grounds for mosquitos.
Source reduction is the key to decreasing the mosquito population. Due to the tropical nature of our climate, breeding habitats are in abundance, and many of them are unfortunately man-made.
A bite by an infectious Aedes aegypti mosquito, spreads diseases – Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, and Malaria -, and therefore it is crucial for every household to prevent its breeding.
Every household must do its part to eliminate Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding sites.
Once again, it is very important to check around your yard to make sure there is no standing water and especially after a rainfall event.
Please also note that you can contact the vector team at (721) 542- 1122 / (721) 542- 1222 / (721) 542- 1322 / (721) 542- 1540 or email vector-control@sintmaartengov.org with supporting pictures to report a mosquito nuisance or request assistance.
ILLUSTRATION: Container Index, the percentage of water-holding containers infested with larvae.
