Your Ultimate Guide To Barbados

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are resident nuisances on the island of Barbados. Of particular threat to the island is the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is a carrier of dengue and yellow fever.

Female mosquitoes need blood in order to fertilse their eggs while males feed on nectar.

Description

This mosquito is easily identified as the adult has white stripes on the legs. The Ministry of Health in Barbados has instituted a fogging programme in an effort to eradicate this species. However, households are always asked to play a greater part in ensuring that their very surroundings are kept tidy at all times and free from hosts to these insects.

Dengue Fever

Dengue Fever is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of humans. This disease is primarily of the tropics and transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms of dengue fever can range from a viral flu to severe and fatal hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

This virus is especially dangerous to children as it causes severe internal bleeding, shock and circulatory collapse.

This virus is aggressively becoming a plague of global proportions and may soon eclipse malaria as the most significant mosquito-borne viral disease affecting humans.

In the summer of 1998 an epidemic broke out on the island which caused wide concern and great panic.

PreCautions

A female mosquito requires a mere few inches of water to lay her eggs. Roof gutters, old tyres or any garbage lying around that has the capacity to hold water is all it takes for this process to get on the way.

Always be vigilant for anything around and that would be adequate.