Reduction In Aedes Index In St. James

MONTEGO BAY September 20 (JIS):

The St. James Environmental Health Department is reporting a two-percentage point decrease in the Aedes Index for August, reflecting the success of the ongoing mosquito-control measures.

The index represents the percentage of premises within a specific area where Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding is detected, based on the total number of premises inspected.

Acting Chief Public Health Inspector, Sherika Lewis, who was addressing the recent monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), said that less than 11 per cent of the premises inspected were found to be positive for mosquito breeding.

“We have inspected 19,546 premises, of which 2,095 were found positive.  Therefore, the Aedes index for the month of August is 11 per cent, and we are coming down from 13 per cent and 12 per cent from the previous months, respectively,” she noted.

She hailed the residents for their efforts in keeping their properties free of mosquito breeding sites.

“So, I want to commend the citizens of St. James for really putting in the effort,” she said.

Ms. Lewis informed that in response to the opening of schools for the 2024/2025 academic year, a total of 28 institutions were fogged and 72 were inspected and treated for mosquito infestation.

These schools include Barracks Road Primary, St. Mary’s Kindergarten and  Preparatory, University of the West Indies (Western Campus), Cambridge Basic, Bogue Hill Primary and Infant,  Cambridge Infant and Primary, Spring Mount Basic, White House Basic, Providence Heights Infant, Farm Primary, DRB Grant Basic, Coral Gardens Basic, Mount Salem Primary, Orange District Infant, Barrett Town Primary and Infant, and John Rollins Success Primary.