Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 06, 2020 (SKNIS): As there has been an increase in rainfall, there has been an upsurge in mosquitoes, says Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, noting that persons can help to decrease the mosquito population that spreads diseases such as Dengue.
Dr. Laws made this statement during her Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) Situation Report at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Press Briefing on August 05, 2020.
She said that as the nation is already facing the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is important to prevent a Dengue outbreak.
“We need to be very aware of the need of us preventing Dengue,” she said. “We are already in a COVID-19 Pandemic; it’s unprecedented and we really do not want to add a Dengue outbreak to that.”
Dr. Laws said that the season with the highest incidences of Dengue has begun. She explained that Dengue is caused by a virus that is spread through the bite of the infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
The Chief Medical Officer further informed that the mosquitoes that usually spread Dengue bite during the day and night. These mosquitos spread other diseases including Chikungunya and Zika Virus, she said.
Dr. Laws stated that persons need to protect babies and children by making sure they are properly attired. She gave other advice about preventing mosquitoes around the home.
“Your responsibility as parents is to protect them from the mosquito,” she said. “We also have a responsibility to stop mosquitos from laying eggs in and near water around and in our household setting. So we need to be wise and diligent in removing standing water where mosquitos could lay eggs.”
She recommended that at least once per week, carefully emptying and scrubbing all containers that hold water. She noted other measures persons can take to prevent t6he breeding of mosquitoes.
“You need to get rid of your tires, buckets, platers, toys, be mindful and take care of your pools, birdbaths, flowerpots and trash containers,” she said.
“Use screens on your windows and doors and repair holes in screens. You can use regular insect sprays to control the mosquitoes. Use an indoor insect fogger or indoor insect spray to kill mosquitoes.”
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