PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):— The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is calling on residents to take and continue the necessary actions after every rainfall event to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and effectively minimize mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue.
For a period of two days, the country received a lot of rainfall, and therefore, action is necessary to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Dengue can become a life-threatening illness, and it is crucial for everyone to be aware of the symptoms and take the necessary precautions to prevent further mosquito breeding and transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
People become infected with the dengue virus when an infected Aedes aegyptus or Aedes albopictus mosquito feeds on or bites them. Usually, between four and seven (4-7) days after a bite, people begin to show symptoms.
Persons with a fever and two or more of the following symptoms are suspected dengue cases and should be tested for confirmation: Nausea/vomiting; Rash; Myalgia/arthralgia (muscle/joint pain); Headache, retro-orbital pain (pain behind the eyes); and Petechiae (red/purple spots on skin); Leukopenia (decrease in number of white blood cells).
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.
Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half-inch of water. This is not much, and plant saucers, bottle caps, or plastic shopping bags hidden amongst vegetation/shrubs are some of those unassuming places that can gather a small amount of water and can still be a huge breeding site for your mosquitoes.
Breeding sites include anywhere where water can settle or remain stagnant for a certain time, undisturbed from garbage to your flowers/plants. This includes tin cans, old tires, empty paint cans, buckets, old saucers, flowerpots, cemetery urns/vases, old pet dishes, unused plastic swimming pools, boats on dry dock, used food containers, plastic drinking cups, plastic shopping bags or other containers or plants that collect and hold water.
Source reduction starts by covering, removing, or turning over containers, artificial artifacts, and unused boats, which can be potential breeding sites. It also involves properly maintaining the yard and surroundings by trimming overgrown vegetation. Every resident on the island should comply with source reduction to impact mosquitoes in the community.
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