Mosquito Awareness Week is an effort of the countries and territories of the Americas, promoted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), to raise awareness and work with communities on the links between mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit, such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, malaria, and yellow fever. It is celebrated from May 01st – 7th , 2023, with the theme “Fight the Bite! Eliminate Mosquito breeding Site.”
The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health usually celebrates this week, as it is part of their mandate to help eradicate vectors, such as mosquitoes. In doing so, the ministry conducts spraying, fogging, and larviciding. As it relates to larviciding, the Ministry uses adate, which destroys the Mosquito larvae.
The ministry also identifies breeding sites, and educates the public on how to get rid of them.
Vector Control is any method used to limit or eradicate mammals, birds, insects, or any other arthropods which transmit pathogens.
Mosquitoes are slender long-legged insects that are easily recognised by their mouthparts and the presence of scales on most parts of their body.
According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, mosquitos were termed “musketas” by the Spanish, and “zancudos” by the native Hispanic Americans. “Mosquito” is a Spanish or Portuguese word that means “small fly,” whereas “zancudos” is a Spanish word that means “long-legged.” The term “mosquito” appears to be of North American origin, dating back to around 1583.
In Europe, mosquitoes were referred to as “gnats” by the English, “Les moucherons” or “Les cousins” by French writers, and “Stechmucken” or “Schnacke” by the Germans. In Scandinavian countries, mosquitos were referred to as “myg” and “myyga,” whereas the Greeks referred to them as “konopus.” Aristotle refers to mosquitos as “empis” in his “Historia Animalium” about 300 B.C., where he described their life cycle and metamorphic ability. Culex is a name adopted by modern writers.
There are over 2000 species of mosquitoes. However, in Guyana, the Unit’s main focus is on Aedes Aegypti, Anopheles and Culex. They are male and female mosquitoes; the females feed on blood, which provides protein to develop her eggs while the males mainly feed on fruits and plant nectar. The females lay their eggs in stagnant water, often referred to as a breeding site.
Mosquitoes’ breeding sites include stagnant water found in tin cans, buckets, old discarded tires, bird baths, clogged rain gutters or drains, and untreated pool(s). Any object that holds water can be considered a mosquito breeding site.
As mosquito week is celebrated, Village Voice News spoke to Nicola Thomas, Vector Control Supervisor for Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) and she told us that the department will host three days of activities. As of Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023, the Region will be conducting health talks at both the Mahaicony and Fort Wellington Hospitals. On Wednesday, there will be models on display at the Environmental Health Department, Region 5 Main Office, Bushlot North Public Road.
World Mosquito Week serves as a reminder that we still have much work to do to combat the threat of mosquito-borne diseases. This event provides an opportunity for scientists, health professionals, policymakers, and the public to come together to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and coordinate efforts to reduce the burden of diseases that mosquitoes spread.
