GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – With the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season less than four weeks away, now is a good time during the lockdown to take stock and remove mosquito breeding habitats in and around your yard, the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a government department under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, said on Wednesday. Together let us strengthen our local mosquito prevention efforts.
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, and therefore it is crucial for every household to prevent its breeding.
Breeding sites include anywhere that water can settle. This includes tin cans, old tires, empty paint cans, buckets, old saucers, flowerpots, cemetery urns/vase, old pet dishes, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water.
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 after rainfall. Install mosquito screens in windows and doors and store rainwater in well-covered tanks.
To report mosquito breeding sites or to request information about eliminating mosquito breeding sites, contact the Coordinator of the Vector Program by sending an email to: vector-control@sintmaartengov.org or call 542-1570.
