Despite reports that the dengue virus is not currently a threat to us in Jamaica, it’s still important for us take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves safe from mosquito-borne diseases. There are many ways to protect your home and family, here are a few:
1. Protect your home
Check around your house for mosquito breeding sites, like pails of stagnant water, old vases, flower pots, old tyres, uncovered garbage bins or puddles forming on roofs or elsewhere. Mosquitoes like to settle in areas, so it’s best to get rid of these sites as quickly as possible.
Prevent mosquito breeding in your home by following these steps:
• Always cover buckets or drums, or turn them upside down if they are not in use or poke holes in the base to allow for drainage.
• Change the water in vases, water pans for your pets and catchment pans regularly, ensuring to keep them clean so that you can prevent the growth of mosquito larvae.
• Mow your lawns regularly – mosquitoes often lurk in tall grass, so keeping it low will reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard.