Rain poses a public health hazard.
ORANJESTAD - June to December are rainy months and for some, this is a blessing, but for public health, this can be a danger.
Rain means life, but mosquitoes lay their eggs in clean water and can cause outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika. To avoid outbreaks of one of the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes as has happened in the past, the entire community needs to pay attention. Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs. If each person makes sure that there is no standing water around his house after each rain, we can keep the number of mosquitoes around our island low and thus also reduce the number of mosquitoes that can transmit disease.
How can we do this?
- Throw away or store all objects that may retain water unnecessarily in and around home, school, and work, for example, scooters under trees, tires, outdoor toys, vases with plants or flowers, and more.
- Cover all water for purposes such as watering trees or feeding animals. For example, a water container under air conditioning or a barrel with rainwater. Be extra alert to standing water, such as barrels for watering plants, vases with plants or flowers, animal water tanks, ponds with lily plants, and more.
The second (2) step is to protect yourself from getting a mosquito-borne disease by:
- Wear long sleeves and legs during the afternoon to evening hours.
- Use mosquito repellent on skin not covered with clothing.
- In outdoor spaces, light a match or use mosquito nets.
- Close doors and windows before dark or use screens.
- Avoid visiting areas where you know there are many mosquitoes.
- Spray inside your home, bedroom, office, and areas you frequent regularly with mosquito repellent spray.
The third (3) step is to protect others around you when you have a disease transmitted by mosquitoes; this you do by avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes.
Symptoms of mosquito-borne diseases include:
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Stomach upset and vomiting.
- Bone, joint, and muscle pain.
- Eye pain.
- Body rash.
If you experience these symptoms, consult your family doctor.
If you feel a lot of mosquito nuisance, GKMB advises doing a good inspection around the house and eliminating all standing water. If the nuisance continues after the inspection, please call GKMB at 5855533 to report.
For more information, like Facebook page, Directie Volksgezondheid DVG Aruba; follow on Instagram, directie_volksgezondheid_aruba, www.dvg.aw,call at 5224200, or mail at service@dvg.aw.
