While the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) carries out routine control operations against the mosquito vector (Aedes aegypti) in the West Bay and George Town areas it has intensified its control effort after learning of the first locally contracted case of the disease.

Immediately following the confirmation of Dengue transmission in West Bay, MRCU concentrated control efforts in the area of the patient’s residence.

“Since the first detection of dengue in West Bay, ground control operations have continued on a daily basis, against both larval and adult mosquitoes. All areas around confirmed and suspected Dengue cases have now been treated,” said MRCU Director Dr. William Petrie.

Immediately upon notification of a case of locally transmitted dengue, work crews were assigned to carry out thermal-fogging of a 600 meter radius around the patient’s residence and a nearby school was surveyed and treated and all yards in the area were treated. Following this initial treatment, MRCU work crews have continued thermal fogging control activities against the Aedes aegypti and to date have treated an area of over 400 acres in the Birch Tree Hill area in West Bay.

In addition to thermal fogging and larval control, the area was treated with a truck mounted cold fog sprayer on the evening of 11th October and the morning of 12th October. Aerial control operations, which were added to supplement ground control began on 15th October and, would have been carried out sooner if weather and environmental conditions were suitable.

Aerial control operations using Mosquito-Mist adulticide spray commenced on 15th October and initial case studies showed the treatment to be effective at killing adult mosquitoes.

But Dr. Petrie noted that MRCU routinely sprays and carries out control operations against the mosquito vector (Aedes aegypti), long before the locally contracted case of Dengue.

“MRCU will maintain control activities in the area to ensure that transmission of the virus has been interrupted. Aerial control operations will continue on a twice weekly basis at 5:00 p.m. in the West Bay area and the success of these missions will be monitored by cage study trials and monitoring the larval population.

Help us to help you

Aedes aegypti, the Dengue mosquito, lives and breeds in and around houses and mainly bites during the day.

Help us to help you

1. TIP. Reduce standing water to eliminate possible mosquito breeding sites, including those in children’s sandboxes, wagons or plastic toys; underneath and around downspouts, in plant saucers and dog bowls. Other hot spots include tarps, gutters, and flat roofs.

2. TOSS. Dispose of trash correctly. Bottles, cans and fast food containers provide an excellent breeding ground if thrown in the bush. Put them in the trash can or recycle if possible.

3. TURN. Turn over larger yard items that could hold water. These include children’s portable sandboxes, plastic toys or wheelbarrows.

4. REMOVE TARPS. If tarps stretched over firewood piles, boats or sports equipment and grills aren’t taut, they’re holding water.

5. TREAT. Using a regular fly spray around the house will kill adult mosquitoes. For an evening spent outside, use a repellant containing ingredients such as DEET and picaridin and cover up at peak biting times (dawn and dusk).

For more information on spray operations, the public can contact MRCU on 949-2557 or 948-2223 in Cayman Brac; and the Department of Environmental Health at 949-6696 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac , or subscribe to its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mrcu.cayman.