The Westmoreland Health Department reports a steady decline in mosquito breeding in the parish over the past three months, based on the Aedes index. The index measures the proportion of inspected homes or premises where Aedes aegypti breeding is detected. Officials say the Aedes index falls from 10.4% in April to 9.6% in May, with a further decline of 8.4% by the end of June.
Medical Officer of Health Dr Marcia Graham delivers the update at a meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation. While she welcomes the improvement, she cautions that mosquito breeding can rise again after rainfall or if residents become complacent. Dr Graham urges continued community action through weekly “search and destroy” efforts to remove breeding sites around homes, workplaces, and places of worship.
She also advises preventive measures such as wearing clothing that covers exposed skin, using insect repellents, and using mosquito nets and window screens, particularly in the early morning and evening. Vector-control teams continue targeting high-risk communities and areas where suspected mosquito-borne illnesses are reported. Separately, laboratory tests confirm that four suspected dengue or leptospirosis-related deaths in Westmoreland this year were negative for both diseases.
