MEDIA UPDATE ON MOSQUITO CONTROL ACTIVITIES FOR PERIOD SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER, 2010 BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING EVERY THING IN ITS POWER TO CONTROL THE ADES EGYPTI MOSQUITO. THE ADES EGYPTI MOSQUITO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF DENGUE FEVER.

IN THIS REGARDS WE ONCE AGAIN SOLICIT THE COOPERATION OF ALL RESIDENTS OF ST KITTS AND NEVIS TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN ITS EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE THE POSSIBIITY OF A DENGUE OUT BREAK.

WE ARE THEREFORE ASKING HOME OWNERS AND/OR HOUSEHOLDERS TO:-

1.             CARRY OUT REGULAR INSPECTION OF THEIR PREMISES
                TO IDENTIFY AND ELEMINATE SOURCES OF MOSQUITO
                BREEDING.

 2.            MAKE SURE THAT ALL GREASE TRAPS, SOAKAWAYS AND
                SEPTIC TANKS ARE SEAL.

3.             COVER ALL VENT PIPES FROM SEPTIC TANK WITH MESH WIRE.

4.             ALL WATER CLOSETS (WC’S) WITHIN ANY BUILDING THAT ARE
                NOT USE REGULARLY SHOULD BE INSPECTED TO MAKE SURE
                THAT THEY ARE NOT SOURCES OF MOSQUITO BREEDING.

 5.            REPORT ANY INCREASE IN MOSQUITO ACTIVITY TO YOUR 
                DISTRICT VECTOR CONTROL OFFICER.

 6.              ALL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO STORE WATER ON
CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE ASKED TO ENSURE THAT MOSQUITOE BREEDING DOES NOT OCCURE IN WATER STORAGE CONTAINERS OR ANY WHERE ON THE PROPERTY.

 7.            TYRE REPAIRS SHOPS ARE ASKED TO REMOVE ALL TIRES
                THAT ARE TO BE DISPOSED OF ON A WEEKLY BASIC.

 8.           UTILITY COMPANNIES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDER
               GROUND INSPECTION CHAMBERS ARE ASKED TO INSPECT 
               THESE CHAMBERS TO ENSURE THAT WATER DOES NOT 
               COLLECT AND REMAIN IN THESE CHAMBERS.

 9.           HOUSE HOLDERS WHO STORE WATER ON THEIR PREMISES 
               FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES ARE ASKED TO CHECK THESE
               CONTAINERS AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT
               THEY ARE NOT BREEDING MOSQUITOES.

          10. FARMERS WHO STORE WATER FOR FARMING PURPOSES ARE
               ASKED TO MONITOR THESE CONTAINERS AT LEAST ONCE PER
               WEEK TO CHECK FOR MOSQUITO BREEDING.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VECTOR CONTROL OFFICER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE CONDUCTING SURVEYS OF ALL COMMUNITIES IN ST KITTS THAT IS HOUSE TO HOUSE INSPECTION IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES.

THE COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITES AND THE INVESTIGATION OF SUSPECTED AND CONFIRMED CASES OF DENGUE FEVER.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT CHEMICAL CONTROL THAT IS FORGGING TO CONTROL THE ADULT MOSQUITO IS THE ONLY CONTROL METHOD THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED, THE MAIN REASON IS THAT RESEARCH HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS IS THE LEAST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF MOSQUITO CONTROL. IT HARMS NONE TARGET SPECIES AND POLLUTES THE ATHMOSPHERE ALSO ALLOW THE MOSQUITO TO DEVELOP RESISTANCE WHEN THE SAME INSECTICIDE IS USED FREQUENTLY.

WE BELIEVE THAT SOURCE REDUCTION THAT IS REMOVAL AND ELIMINATION OF ALL SOURCES OF MOSQUITO BREEDING IS THE WAY TO GO AND THIS METHOD CAN QUICKLY BRING THE TREAT OF A DENGUE OUTBREAK UNDER CONTROL.

WE ALSO USE THIS MEDIUM TO COMMENT THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT AND THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION ON THEIR INITIATIVE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A DERELICT VEHICLE REMOVAL ACTITIVITY.  HOWEVER WE ARE AGAIN APPEALING TO OWNERS AND AGENTS OF EMPTY LOTS TO CLEAN THESE EMPTY LOTS. WE ARE ALSO ASKING PERSONS WHO HAVE WHITE GOODS (STOVES, REFRIDGERATORS, AND WASHING MACHINE ECT) WHICH ARE NOT WORKING AND CAN BE A SOURCE OF MOSQUITO BREEDING, TO CONTACT THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR REMOVAL.

REMEMBER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF YOUR NATION.