The Curacao Health Department urges control of pesky mosquitoes during the rainy season

WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Public Health Service is calling on residents to take a joint approach in dealing with mosquito nuisance, with special attention to destroying their breeding grounds now that the rainy season has arrived. Aedes aegypti, commonly known as the dengue or tiger mosquito, is the main vector of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika, and thrives in stagnant water in people’s habitats.

Dengue fever has recently been diagnosed on several islands in the Caribbean, with the emergence of dengue type 2. According to the Ministry of Health, it is necessary to intensify efforts to eliminate these breeding hotspots. To this end, the Service requests active contributions from the people of Curaçao.

Measures that can be taken include checking and cleaning flower pots with standing water, dishes that hold water, and using a larvicide regularly. It is also recommended to place sand or soil in containers with standing water to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs there. It is also important to check your yard and garden for items such as tires and containers where water could remain, and keep them clean or disposed of.

Industrial companies are urged to take measures against nesting mosquitoes, such as storing tires under the roof and disposing of unused tires in a landfill.

Personal protection against mosquito bites is also essential. This can be done by applying insect repellent to the body, available in local boutiques.