Wednesday, December 11, 2024

SPTC and Ministry of Health unite for a Zika free San Pedro

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Press Release – San Pedro Town Council and the Ministry of Health – February 15, 2016 – With the recent Zika situation in the region, The San Pedro Town Council in conjunction with the Ministry of Health has embarked on a proactive approach to ensure that our island, as well as the entire country of Belize, remains Zika free.
This plan of action is in accordance with the national plan of action that the Ministry of Health has embarked on.

This 2006 photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a female Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of acquiring a blood meal from a human host. On Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, U.S. health officials are telling pregnant women to avoid travel to Latin America and Caribbean countries with outbreaks of a tropical illness linked to birth defects. The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites from Aedes aegypti and causes only a mild illness in most people. But there’s been mounting evidence linking the virus to a surge of a rare birth defect in Brazil. (James Gathany/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP)
The San Pedro Town Council and the Ministry of Health are therefore encouraging all islanders to do their part to prevent all forms of mosquito-borne diseases and keep our environment and island clean.
* Get rid of all water catchment that can be possible mosquito breeding sites; such as tires: old cans, coconut shells, old refrigerators, drums and soda caps.
* Keep your yard and surrounding properties clean and free of garbage.
* Open doors and windows when the San Pedro Town Council trucks are conducting mosquito fogging (spraying) in your area.
The Ministry of Health and the San Pedro Town Council will continue to carry out normal standard procedures to get rid of mosquitos and possible breeding sites such as:
* ULV spraying on the entire island
* Distribute granular Abate upon request at the San Pedro Town Council Barracks.
As with any confirmed vector transmitted diseases, the San Pedro Town Council and the Ministry of Health have a standard procedure in place as an intervention measure for the island. This includes, but is not limited to larviciding, thermal fogging, inspection and treatment of water storage containers on premises.
The San Pedro Town Council and the Ministry of Health are also working on other educational and preventive initiatives to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
Personal prevention measures, such as the use of insect repellent are also strongly encouraged.
Do your part and don’t let the mosquito ruin our visitors’ stay on the island.

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