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GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Minister of Public Health Emil Lee has called for National Mosquito Elimination Community Program Zika Virus disease (ZikV) “Beat ZikV.â€
The community program calls for a close collaboration with the people of Sint Maarten and entails house to house visits with one on one education on the elimination of mosquito breeding sites in and around the house.
The program also includes inspection of the surroundings of the house by vector controllers; assessment of the findings; set-up and monitoring of traps to study mosquito behavior and larvae development, and if needed targeted fogging of identified locations.
The community program Beat ZikV will start in the Saunders area as a pilot project on the weekend of August 20/21. From there it will expand as a program throughout the Cul de Sac area. This area was selected due to a close link between mosquito complaints and a number of reported ZikV cases. After the Cul de Sac area the program will be rolled out nationwide.
Coordination will be carried out by the Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government department under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.
Volunteers from various government entities have been mobilized as volunteers to assist with this community program.
The ultimate purpose is to minimize the occurrence of ZikV by eliminating mosquito breeding sites within the districts with a special focus on the elimination of the Aedes Aegypty mosquito.
CPS reiterates to the population of Sint Maarten as well as visitors to wear light colored clothing at dusk; long sleeve shirts and pants, and use mosquito repellent to prevent being bitten by a mosquito that could possibly be carrying a mosquito-borne disease.
CPS re-enforces its message that all residents and businesses need to take proactive measures to prevent mosquitos from breeding. Be on the alert for mosquito breeding sites and eliminate, especially after heavy rainfall.
Actively destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns/vase or in pet dishes for more than two days. Throw out the water and turn them over every time it collects water.
An increase in the mosquito population puts residents and visitors at risk. For information about dengue fever, zika, and chikungunya prevention measures, you can call CPS 542-2078 or 542-3003 to report mosquito breeding sites or email: surveillance@sintmaartengov.org
