‘We want you to clean up your yards’ – Israel

While appealing for residents to join in the fight against mosquitoes, Vector Control Manager Minchington Israel said his unit has doubled the number of trucks involved in fogging, adding that the aim is to ensure the entire territory is fogged.

The intensified operation comes after widespread flooding this month sparked increased fear that the mosquito population may increase significantly, thereby increasing the risk of mosquito-related viruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika.

“We have decided to double-up on the usual fogging schedule of truck operating nightly. We will have two trucks fogging in tandem with our powerful truck mount equipment,” Minchington said.

“The plan is to do the entire territory however long it takes. But we will endeavor to have two trucks on the road each night, which will be double our normal fogging schedule to try to go through the territory as quickly as possible,” he further said, adding that the fogging schedule is dependent on the weather.

Minchington explained that, if there is rain or high winds more than 10 miles per hour, fogging cannot be done as it can be taken up into the atmosphere or carried out to sea.

The vector control manager further stated that a fogging campaign was launched recently, and the Ministry of Health is seeking the community’s assistance in ensuring that the efforts are effective.

Residents are urged to conduct weekly surveillance of their premises to minimize mosquito breeding.

“We want you to clean up your yards and eliminate mosquito breeding sites,” Minchington said.

“Remove or turn over water holding receptacles such as unwanted buckets, pails, bottles, tin cans, and toys. Take abandoned home appliances and old tires to the Pockwood Pond incinerator, and contact the Department of Waste Management for help with removal of derelict vehicles.”