Mosquito Awareness Week Targets Source Reduction
The Environmental Health Division will observe Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week from May 11–15, 2026, under the theme “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction.” The campaign emphasises community action to reduce Aedes aegypti breeding sites and includes school outreach and a Poetry and Art Competition to engage youth across the Virgin Islands.
The Environmental Health Division is joining regional partners to observe Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2026 from May 11–15, focusing on the theme “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction.” The week-long campaign seeks to empower residents across the Virgin Islands to take practical steps against mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
At the centre of the initiative is source reduction — removing or treating standing water where the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds. Public health officials remind residents that even a small amount of water, in items like plant saucers, discarded tires, buckets, and bottle caps, can support mosquito larvae and raise the risk of local outbreaks.
Throughout the week the Environmental Health Division will carry out public outreach activities, school visits and media engagements to raise awareness and encourage behaviour change. Officials are emphasising simple, routine actions households can take: empty or flip containers that collect water, cover water storage tanks, clean and clear gutters, change water in bird baths and pet bowls regularly, and ensure window and door screens are intact.
The Division is also engaging young people with a Poetry and Art Competition that invites students to creatively explore the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the diseases it spreads, and the importance of eliminating breeding sites. The competition aims to build awareness early and encourage students to become advocates for healthier homes and communities by using art and poetry as public health tools. “Vector control is everyone’s business,” Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer Henrietta Alexander said, underscoring that community participation is critical to protecting public health across the Territory.
By taking simple, consistent actions, residents can significantly reduce mosquito breeding and help safeguard their families and neighbours. The Ministry of Health and Social Development reiterated its commitment to protecting the wellbeing of the Virgin Islands through effective policies, sustainable programmes and partnerships that promote a safe, healthy and resilient society.
For more information, residents may contact Natasha Lettsome-Humphrey, Public Health Communications Specialist, at 468-2286 or nlettsome@gov.vg. International media enquiries can be directed to BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com.
Primary source: BVI Government