Intense mosquito clean-up on track

THE Environmental Health Department has started a comprehensive house to house inspection to reduce the mosquito population.Chief Environmental Health Officer, Tyrone Applewhaite, said his department would step up its programme as fears mount over an increase in dengue fever cases.Applewhaite told the DAILY NATION yesterday the aim was to cover 90 per cent of households over the next three months.“Everything is on stream for what will be a major drive. The only obstacle is the number of closed houses we are encountering. About 25 per cent of the houses we encountered are closed as sometimes people are away from home when the officers visit,” he said.Applewhaite said health officers would work in teams and move through districts and villages, adding that every case, whether confirmed or suspected, would be investigated.The environmental chief urged Barbadians to keep their premises and backyards free from containers, tall grass, tyres, refuse and unused equipment. He also reminded the public to seal wells and septic tanks.Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever or bonecrusher disease, is associated with headache, muscle and joint aches, usually with intense pain at the back of the eyes. (MK)