THE Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs would like to again implore the Saint Lucian public to join us in the fight against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. This request comes in light of the recent reports coming out of our next-door neighbor Martinique, where A total of 690 cases of Dengue Fever have been confirmed and 3,000 cases have been suspected. Like Martinique and the rest of the Caribbean, Dengue Fever is also endemic to Saint Lucia. Thus it is imperative that we utilize all possible measures to significantly reduce the mosquito population and prevent an outbreak of Dengue Fever in country.
The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is the sole vector responsible for the spread of diseases such as Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and Zika. Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes are well adapted to human settlements and tend to breed in water holding containers, whether it be man-made such as tires, buckets, barrels, drums, buckets and trash containers or, natural container such as like tree holes and certain plants. Reducing mosquito breeding sites is essential for both prevention and control during outbreaks of mosquito borne diseases.
Intensifying mosquito control strategies are therefore of utmost importance, this is why it is so necessary to get citizens actively involved in mosquito control. For prevention in the home, householders are called on to reduce the number of key mosquito breeding sites. We at the Ministry of Health are calling on individuals, families and communities to join us in the battle to reduce mosquito breeding sites in and around homes.
To discourage the breeding of mosquitoes in your yard, all householders are encouraged to at least once a week, ensure that any container that can accumulate water is either discarded, or emptied, scrubbed and turned over. In situations where it is necessary to store water, we ask that water holding containers are tightly covered to prevent mosquitos from accessing them.
Communications on this subject should be addressed to: Permanent Secretary Sir Stanislaus James Building Waterfront, Castries Saint Lucia, West Indies. The Ministry of Health would like to urge residents to practice personal protection to keep themselves safe from mosquito bites by wearing light coloured clothing, wearing long sleeve shirts and pants and using repellents containing at least 30% DEET especially when doing outdoor activities. Residents should also seek medical attention if they are experiencing any symptoms of dengue fever. Symptoms of Dengue Fever include a sudden onset of fever, headache, joint pain or muscle pain, fatigue and rash.