KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson says the recent rainfall has resulted in an increase in the mosquito population and therefore the threat of the spread of chikungunya and dengue fever has heightened.

In a news release from the ministry today, Ferguson has appealed for people to search for and destroy mosquito breeding sites around the home, school, church and place of business.

“Dengue fever and chikungunya are transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which primarily breeds in clean water which settles in containers around places inhabited by humans. The best way to effectively reduce the spread of these diseases is to prevent the breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito which spreads the viruses,” Ferguson explained.

The release added that individuals should get rid of mosquito breeding sites by looking for anything in which water can settle and either cover it, keep the area dry, clean it regularly, fill it with soil or sand, punch holes into it and recycle or properly dispose of it. If mesh is used to cover containers then the holes should be small enough so that mosquitoes cannot enter.

Ferguson also stated that drums that are used to store water have been found to be the main breeding sites for mosquitoes and so individuals need to pay special attention to these containers. 

He also noted that the ministry recently distributed specially designed drum covers to the Parish Councils for use in communities as part of its Integrated Vector Management Strategy.

The dengue and chikungunya viruses can only be spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. When the mosquito bites an infected person, it can transmit the virus to others bitten afterwards.