The rainy season is fast approaching and with all those refreshing showers comes a new challenge: mosquito season. These blood-sucking insects are already making their presence known in swarms in San Pedro Town. Local authorities are concerned that it could lead to another outbreak of the endemic disease Dengue. Thus, islanders are urged to keep their properties clean to eliminate any potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Dengue causes painful fever, rashes, and is a very debilitating illness. To mitigate any outbreak of Dengue or any other disease like Zika and Chikungunya transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes Egypti species of mosquito, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) along with the Health Department will conduct spraying throughout the different subdivisions of San Pedro.
According to Health Inspector Christina Sanchez, spraying is expected to start soon on the island. The insecticide has been ordered, and as it makes its way to San Pedro, Sanchez asks the community’s participation in keeping their yards free of items that can hold rainwater/stagnant water where mosquitoes reproduce. Sanchez encourages everyone to go the extra mile as they have been combating COVID-19 and the community needs to help mitigate any possible outbreak of Dengue.
As another high-rate Dengue season is expected, Mayor Daniel Guerrero joined Sanchez in asking island residents to do their part. “Let’s begin cleaning our properties before the heavy rains begin,” he said. Due to COVID-19 and the current State of Emergency, Guerrero said that the SPTC has decreased its operating hours, however, its sanitation department continues to work hard picking up garbage from residential areas.
In 2019, hundreds of Belizeans were affected by Dengue. The disease was on the brink of becoming an epidemic on the island, after a surge of cases.
There’s no vaccine or specific treatment; the focus is on relieving symptoms and includes rest, rehydration, and acetaminophen for fever and pain and avoiding medicines with aspirin.
