Residents of the Virgin Islands are urged to continue weekly inspections of their premises for signs of mosquito breeding.

Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mrs. Yolanda Penn said efforts must be focused on source reduction and clean up to include the elimination of unwanted containers that can hold water, and keeping water storage receptacles such as tanks and cisterns, and sealing septic tanks and soak-aways properly covered.

”Our message has not changed,” Mrs. Penn said, adding, “We will continue to do our surveillance and employ tactics to manage the mosquito problem. However ultimately it is shared responsibility. We are depending on the community to do their part.”

Mrs. Penn urged residents to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and protect the population in observation of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week being observed from May 8 to12 under the theme Small Bite, Big Threat.

According to the Acting Chief, everyone must work together to control mosquito borne-illnesses like Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and ZIKA. “Do your weekly surveillance, clean your premises and refrain from harbouring derelict vehicles,” she said. Residents are also asked to remain vigilant in this period of infrequent rain.

Mosquito Awareness Week is an initiative of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in an effort to increase awareness in the region on the effects of mosquito borne diseases which can threaten the health and impact the tourism sector.

The Environmental Health Division is committed to ensuring that all aspects of the environment with the potential to negatively impact the health of the population are managed efficiently to enable all persons in the BVI to attain and maintain optimal health and well-being