KINGSTON, Jamaica  (JIS) — Jamaica’s programme to eradicate the aedes egypti mosquito, which is the primary vector for the Zika virus, has been given a boost through a US$250,000 provision under the Caribbean Zika Response and Preparedness Project.

The 16-month undertaking is being implemented by the Jamaica Red Cross through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Under the initiative, communities in seven parishes have been identified for targeted intervention, which include clean-up activities and public education.

The parishes are Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, St Mary, Portland, Westmoreland, and St James.

Teams of Red Cross volunteers, along with the organisation’s field officers are already in the targeted areas visiting homes and staging community sensitisation sessions to empower residents to take action to eradicate breeding areas in and around their homes.

Project Manager, Jamaica Red Cross, Kalesha Henlon, said a big part of the programme is the cleaning of communities, which has already started.

She said that old tyres and containers that collect water, providing a breeding ground for the pests, are being removed.  

Henlon, who was speaking at a recent meeting at the Red Cross headquarters in Central Village, St Catherine, said drum covers are also being distributed to householders.

She noted that the covers have been working successfully, and the Red Cross is seeking additional support to widen distribution both inside and outside of the project areas.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Winston De La Haye, in endorsing the project, has appealed for individuals in the communities to cooperate fully.

While cases of Zika have significantly declined, and the disease is not the threat that it was a year ago, Dr De La Haye noted that the virus is endemic to the country “so we don’t want the public to relax”.

In addition, he said, there are still instances of dengue fever and Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV), which are transmitted by the same mosquito that spreads Zika.