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The V.I. Department of Health's Vector Control Program (VIDOH VCP) announced Tuesday the start of the 2021 Mosquitoes in Cisterns Survey. The survey, conducted in partnership with the Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit (PRVCU), is to learn if cisterns are important mosquito breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the mosquito species that spreads dengue, Zika, and chikungunya in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the release. The information gathered will help the VIDOH VCP make decisions about mosquito control in the future.
The Mosquitoes in Cisterns Survey includes two-parts: first, survey staff will place a small, plastic, mosquito trap into cisterns to collect immature mosquitoes for two days. Second, survey staff will look for mosquito breeding sites in the yards around the homes and cisterns and eliminate when possible with the homeowner’s permission.
The survey is free and open to the public and will take place in randomly chosen neighborhoods. The public is encouraged to participate if they see survey staff in their neighborhood.
The survey is scheduled to begin at the end of January on St. Croix, early February on St. Thomas, and early March on St. John. All social distancing protocols will be followed by survey staff, stated the release.
Anyone interested in participating or who would like more information can contact the VIDOH VCP at 340-202-0301 or email [email protected].
