On 9^th October the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) launched their new campaign, Mosquito Mission. This campaign highlights the fact that the humble little mosquito is the Caribbean’s deadliest animal, being more dangerous than lions, snakes and sharks. This is because mosquitoes in the Caribbean transmit  a number of diseases, these are Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya.

CARPHA’s new campaign draws our attention to the three things the public can do to fight the threat posed by mosquitoes:

• End the breeding
• Stop the biting
• Take action

On their new website they provide extensive advice on each of the above areas. This includes information on preventing your home from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  Mosquitoes breed in stagnant fresh water that has been standing for four to seven days. The message here is to dispose of any water that has collected around your house and to remove any containers that may collect rain water. CARPHA also stresses that the best way to prevent the transmission of a mosquito-borne disease is to avoid being bitten in the first place and this can be achieved by wearing long-sleeved clothing; using insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR 3535 and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus;  using mosquito nets on windows and doors to prevent their entry into your home; and  to sleep protected by a mosquito net. CARPHA’s final message is that people should act quickly and visit a doctor should they think they have been bitten by an infected mosquito and feel unwell.

In addition to these messages, CARPHA is also raising awareness of the symptoms of mosquito-borne diseases, is providing information on testing and has information on what exactly Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya are. For this and more information please visit CARPHA’s website here , watch the video below or you can contact CARPHA by emailing them or calling +1-868 299-0820