46 years ago, mosquitoes were so dense in the Cayman Islands, swarms of the pests could suffocate large animals like cows by completely shutting off their air supply. Just imagine then how much of a nuisance they were for the residents.
This situation became so untenable that it prompted the establishment of the Cayman Islands’
Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU). The
MRCU has been successful in reducing mosquito density to a more manageable level than what existed decades ago.
But mosquitoes are not easily eradicated, not with international trade and travel being what it is. In this regard, resistant
Aedes eggs could enter the country in used tyres, for example. And someone infected with the
Dengue virus could so easily waltz into Grand Cayman and thereby become the focal point for an outbreak of the disease. The
Aedes aegypti mosquito is present in Cayman, having been reintroduced in 2002 after being previously gotten rid of by the
MRCU.
It goes without saying that the
MRCU has a never-ending fight on its hands to keep a grip on the gains they have made. For this reason, MRCU’s planes took to the skies in the latter half of May to mount an assault against the Dengue-causing
Aedes aegypti mosquito ahead of the start of the hurricane season on June 01.
MRCU concentrated its aerial bombardment in the main urban population centres of Georgetown and West Bay on Grand Cayman. Assistant Director,
Alan Wheeler told
caycompass.com that more flights were scheduled.
With increased rainfall a certainty, a large population of adults could breed so profusely in yards and vacant lots as to carry the
Dengue virus across the small island in no time, sickening people along the way and probably causing death in their wake.
It is a well-established fact though, that the
Dengue mosquito cannot be successfully controlled without the active involvement of the community at large.
In a May 26 editorial in
caycompass.com, captioned ‘MRCU needs our help,’ the agency went on the offensive, “…
asking residents to survey their properties for any places of standing water and to empty any containers where they find it.” The argument was that “[reducing]
the number of breeding places can go a long way in reducing the population of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, helping to ensure Grand Cayman remains mostly free from the dangers of dengue fever.”
So far, so good. Grand Cayman has been lucky thus far.
Source: caymancompass.com ¹ , ²
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Source: caymancompass.com ¹ , ²
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