BALACLAVA, St Elizabeth — It was all about the threat posed by the Zika virus and the need to destroy breeding sites for its carrier the Aedes aegypti mosquito at a recent town-hall meeting hosted by the St Elizabeth Health Services at the Balaclava Community Centre.

Health officials at the meeting urged residents of Balaclava and surrounding communities to “clean up” areas in the home and environs so that mosquitoes do not get a chance to breed.

The Zika virus — which experts say has not yet reached Jamaican shores but is moving through sections of the Americas, as well as the chikungunya virus and dengue — are spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The insect routinely breeds in stagnant water in and around the home.

Everton Fisher, councillor for the Balaclava Division as well as mayor of Black River urged people to “clean up their backyards” and not wait on government to come to their rescue.

A news release from the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) said the Balaclava meeting was part of a series across the region under the theme “Let’s Talk Health”.