Reduce Mosquito Breeding After Rains
The Environmental Health Division is urging BVI residents and property owners to remove standing water following heavy rains to prevent mosquito breeding and the spread of diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. Officials recommend regular checks of yards and common containers, proper water storage management, and reporting of breeding sites to the Environmental Health Division.
The Environmental Health Division is calling on residents and property owners across the British Virgin Islands to take immediate action to reduce mosquito breeding after recent periods of heavy rainfall. Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer Ms. Henrietta Alexander warned that dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases remain a serious public health concern. "Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases remain a serious public health concern, and prevention begins at the household level.
By taking simple steps after heavy or consistent rains, the community can significantly reduce mosquito populations and disease risk," she said. Mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes species that transmit dengue and chikungunya, breed rapidly in stagnant water. Even small volumes collected in everyday items can produce hundreds of insects within days.
Common breeding sites include buckets, drums, flower pots, discarded containers, old tyres, tarpaulins, and uncovered cisterns. The Division urged residents to overturn, empty, or properly manage these items to prevent standing water. The public campaign slogan is Fight the Bite: Prevent and Protect, Day and Night.
Because Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day as well as at dusk, households should take both daytime and nighttime protective measures. Recommended actions include: - Inspect yards weekly and after heavy rains for containers holding water. - Empty, scrub, or cover water-holding containers; store water drums and cisterns with tight lids or screens. - Dispose of or puncture old tyres and remove rubbish that can collect rain. - Keep gutters clean and ensure proper drainage around the property. - Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves when possible, and install screens on windows and doors.
The Division stresses that community cooperation is critical: individual household efforts reduce the island-wide mosquito population and lower disease risk for everyone. Residents who see potential breeding sites or unusual mosquito activity are encouraged to report concerns to the Environmental Health Division at (284) 468-5110 or via email at ehd@gov.vg.
For public health communications, contact Natasha Lettsome-Humphrey, Public Health Communications Specialist, Ministry of Health and Social Development, Telephone: (284) 468-2286, Email: nlettsome@gov.vg. For general government services and appointments residents can call (284) 468-3701 or try the Government of the Virgin Islands virtual booking system.
If you develop fever, severe headache, joint pain, rash, or other symptoms after mosquito exposure, seek medical attention promptly and inform healthcare providers of possible mosquito-borne illness.
Primary source: BVI Government