#TurksandCaicos, November 20, 2017 – Providenciales – Due to the recent and continuous rainfall throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands the Environmental Health Department and Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services hereby advise residents, home owners, apartment owners and businesses to have all debris removed from their premises and disposed at the public landfill/solid waste disposal sites on your respective island. With the removal of the debris from your premises it will reduce mosquito breeding and prevention of mosquito borne and other vector borne diseases such as Zika virus, Chikungunya and Dengue fever.
As Environmental Health Department – Vector Control Unit continues to monitor and treat mosquito breeding sites, home owners, apartment owners and business owners are advised to treat standing water on your premises by using cooking oil or any other environmental friendly oils to prevent mosquito breeding.
In addition to taking such preventative measures, all residents are encouraged to continue to discourage the growth and reproduction of mosquitoes by taking the following precautions:
- Check around buildings for anything that could hold water;
- Inspect your home and yard weekly;
- Turn containers over or cover them;
- Get rid of or cover old tires;
- Properly dispose of all garbage/refuse;
- Cover boats, children’s pools, etc;
- Clean rain gutters and make sure they are flowing properly;
- Check screens for holes;
- Tightly cover water drums and rain barrels;
For further information please contact the Environmental Health Department on your respective island.
Press Release: Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services
