St James’ Aedes mosquito index showing encouraging downward trajectory

WESTERN BUREAU:

Sherika Lewis, the acting chief public health inspector for St James, says the parish’s Aedes index, which measures the spread of mosquito breeding, has seen a two per cent decline since June, and now stands at 11 per cent.

In her report at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation, Lewis attributed the encouraging decline to citizens’ increased efforts to keep the mosquito population low.

“For vector control activities, and this is the report for the month of August, we have inspected a total of 19,546 premises, of which 2,095 were found positive for mosquito breeding. Therefore, the Aedes index for the month of August is 11 per cent, and we are coming down from 13 per cent and 12 per cent from the previous months, respectively,” said Lewis, referencing the months of June and July.

“We are also seeing a reduction in the number of containers that are actually breeding mosquitoes, so I want to commend the citizens of St James for really putting in the effort and the work in ensuring that their premises are kept free from mosquito breeding,” Lewis continued.

WASTE-COLLECTION EFFORTS

St James has had a history of shifting Aedes index numbers, with the St James Health Department working to keep the number at five per cent or less each month. The lowest figure recorded in the parish was four per cent in July 2021, while the highest was 30 per cent in August 2023.

The 13 per cent Aedes index in June this year was an increase from May’s recorded 11 per cent, which was itself a major jump from the six per cent index in April and was attributed to an increase in rainfall during that period. During June’s monthly municipal corporation meeting, the St James Health Department called for the parish’s citizens to take personal responsibility for curbing mosquito breeding.

Lewis also told Thursday’s meeting that several schools across St James were fogged as part of vector control activities in August.

“Eighty-nine communities were visited and 50 of them were fogged, and 28 schools were also fogged. In total, 72 schools were inspected and treated for mosquito infestation, and some of these schools included Barracks Road Primary School, Cambridge Basic School, Bogue Hill Primary and Infant School, and Mt Salem Primary School,” said Lewis.

Her comments followed a report from the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s Western Parks and Markets which outlined that the organisation’s waste-collection efforts up to August have reduced St James’ community backlog to five districts, down from 83 in June and 55 in July.

Improper garbage disposal has historically been blamed for rat infestation and mosquito breeding in different communities in St James.