SVG ramps up fight against aedes aegypti mosquito

A national clean up campaign will take place this Sunday, to futher ramp up efforts to reduce the presence here of the aedes aegypti mosquito, the vector responsible for spreading the Zika virus.{{more}}

The campaign will be a joint effort of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment and other stakeholders and comes in the wake of an agreement on Tuesday, January 26 by the ministers of health and chief medical officers of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to launch a coordinated clean up campaign in member states this Sunday.

Yesterday, national stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA), CCA, Action Bequia, The Ministry of Tourism, the National Tourism Authority, the National Hotel Association, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Pan American Health Organisation met at the Ministry of Health conference room to address the national response to Zika, including the clean-up drive.

A release from the Ministry of Health said the participation of all stakeholders is vital to the sucess of this effort.

“The Ministry reiterates its call for the public to lend the required support as a part of their shared responsibility.

“Everybody must ensure that their environment is kept clean and free of mosquito breeding sites so that we all remain Zika virus free,” the release said.