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CARPHA urges regional countries to eradicate mosquito breeding sites

Published:Monday | May 13, 2019 | 12:22 PM

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC –The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is warning the region that as the rainy seasons approaches every effort must be made to intensify efforts to deal with mosquitoes, which it describes as “the world’s deadliest animal.”

CARPHA executive director, Dr. C. James Hospedales in a message coinciding with Mosquito Awareness Week 2019, said the mosquitoes could seriously affect the health of Caribbean people.

“Mosquito-borne diseases stress our region’s health care systems, threaten social and economic development, and negatively impact our tourism industry,” he said.

CARPHA said that the World Health Organization has indicated that the dengue virus alone threatens approximately 3.9 billion people in over 128 countries.

Mosquito Awareness Week 2019 is being observed with the slogan “Fight the Bite, Destroy Mosquito Breeding Sites”, and CARPHA said the week focuses on mosquito-borne diseases and risks associated with them.

It said climate variability can influence the number of persons exposed to mosquito-borne diseases.

“As the rainy season approaches, mosquito control and awareness activities need to be intensified. Significant rainfall can lead to a proliferation of mosquito breeding sites, increased mosquito populations and an increased risk of disease transmission.”

Senior Technical Officer with responsibility for Vector Borne Diseases Prevention and Control at CARPHA, Rajesh Ragoo, said the best way to “fight the bite” is to be on the lookout for standing water and clean up our surroundings.

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