The Environmental Health Unit will be conducting an island-wide fogging exercise this September to help rid Anguilla of virus carrying mosquitos.
Vector control officers will target a different area of the island from 8 to 22 September, starting each night at 5.30pm.
In a press release on 1 September, the unit advised residents to cover potable water, food items and utensils, and open all of their windows to allow the fog to pass through.
Anyone likely to be affected by the fog – especially the unwell, allergic, asthmatic, very young or elderly – should relocate during the activity.
“If any breathing complications arise as a result of the fog, please consult a physician,” the Environmental Health Unit added.
Meanwhile, the unit asked all motorists to look out for the fogging vehicle’s strobe lights and be cautious when driving behind it as the fog can reduce visibility.
Fogging schedule
The tentative fogging schedule is as follows (dates may change depending on weather conditions or other factors):
- Monday, 8 September – West End, Long Bay, Cove Road and Rendezvous
- Tuesday, 9 September – Blowing Point, Cul De Sac and Lower South Hill
- Wednesday, 10 September – Upper South Hill, Sandy Ground, North Hill and Swing High
- Thursday, 11 September – Water Swamp, Old Ta, George Hill, Statia Valley and Little Harbour
- Friday, 12 September – Long Ground, The Forest, Corito and Rey Hill
- Saturday, 13 September – Rock Farm, Sachasses, Katouche and Roaches Hill
- Sunday, 14 September – The Valley, North Valley, South Valley and North Side
- Monday, 15 September – May Pen, Cedar Village, True Eyes and Tackling
- Tuesday, 16 September – Stoney Ground, Little Dix and Shoal Bay
- Wednesday, 17 September – Cauls Bottom, Wattices and The Quarter
- Thursday, 18 September – The Farrington, Long Road, Sandy Hill and Sea Feathers
- Friday, 19 September – Church Gate, The Corpse, East End, Pond Ground and Pond Site
- Saturday, 20 September – Bad Cox, Deep Waters, Chalvilles and Welches
- Sunday, 21 September – The Sea Rocks, Island Harbour, The Keys and Garlin Bottom
- Monday, 22 September – Harbour Ridge, White Hill and Mount Fortune
Eliminate risk
Fogging only kills the adult mosquitoes so the Environmental Health Unit urges all householders to eliminate or cover all potential breeding sites from, in and around their premises.
These can include anything that can hold still water, such as unwanted containers, old tyres, plant saucers, birdbaths, buckets, clogged gutters, cisterns and swimming pools.
“Such measures will go a long way in controlling and preventing breeding of mosquitoes, as no containers equals no water, no water equals no mosquitoes and therefore no mosquito bites,” the unit said.
Mosquitoes can carry viruses such as dengue, yellow fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, zika and encephalitis.
“We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation while we work together to protect the health of the country by putting these mosquito pests to rest,” the unit said.
Anguilla Focus has reached out to the Department of Health Protection for further details on the fogging chemicals that will be used and is awaiting a response.
