Sint Maarten. Emergency Mosquito fogging to start Wednesday
Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever
Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, is advising residents of Belvedere, Dutch Quarter including Union Farm and Garden of Eden, and Middle Region that a cycle of emergency mosquito fogging will start on Wednesday, 5th February.
Homeowners during the time of the spraying should open all doors and windows. Dishes, bowls, pots and pans, fish tanks and bird cages should be covered. Stay away from open windows and doors during the spraying.
The fogging exercise is an effort by Government in fighting the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which can transmit Dengue and Chikungunya viruses if infected. Chikungunya is similar to dengue.
Residents must bear in mind that fogging is not a total solution to eliminate mosquitos. Fogging activity is kept to a minimum in order to prevent the mosquito population from developing immunity to the chemicals that are deployed.
Residents are strongly advised to continue to step up measures at homes and businesses to mitigate the rise in the viruses carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Aedes agypti mosquitoes lay their eggs in clean stagnant water. The diseases attributed to the mosquito are dengue and chikungunya. In order to mitigate the number of cases, elimination of mosquito breeding places and preventing mosquitoes from feeding are priority actions. “All, against Mosquitoes.”
Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever, ‘Get Checked” campaign, is in line with the urgent efforts currently on-going eliminate breeding sites of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is most active at dawn and dusk, but residents and visitors should use mosquito repellent throughout the day in order to ward off mosquitos.
An increase in the mosquito population puts all residents and businesses at risk. Call for information on the Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites and respective preventive measures at 542-2078 or 542-3003 or email surveillance@sintmaartengov.org. Consult your physician to ensure proper diagnosis, registration, treatment and follow-up.
