AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Zika virus?

Have there been any reported cases of Zika virus in AC or anywhere in Belize? Lots of worry up here in The states and airlines are offering refunds to those whose travel plans included Central/South America.

While on the subject of mosquitos, is there a mosquito abatement program in place on AC? I live in south Louisiana, USA and we have a mosquito control department. During the summer months when the mosquitos are most active the agency sprays insecticides via trucks with fogger machines as well as by airplanes. They spray quite a large area, many times the size of AC nightly. Has this ever been considered on the island?

None that I know of. When you look at the maps, Belize is the only country in Central America where no cases have been reported yet. I googled the subject and from the maps I have seen, Zika in Central America centers mostly around the Pacific Coast (we are on the Atlantic Coast) and in Mexico near the US boarder by the Gulf of Mexico. I am no specialist though and I realize that it's only a matter of time before we also will be affected. I have seen pictures of the tiger mosquito, and while I live on Ambergris Caye, I have never seen one here yet. Most of the resorts spray against mosquitos, I think the town board does too, but I'm not sure.
Short

Cases of malaria have declined a grt deal over the yrs due to govt spraying and info programs. Less malaria means lots fewer mossies, which indicates we are doing a pretty good job at eradication of all species of mossies and far fewer transmission of all mossie born illness. We have a small population, so much easier to control here.

Many news articles report that the larvicide used to eradicate the mosquitoes is the culprit in the microcephalic babies in Brazil. The larvicide was introduced into public/drinking water in the communities where the birth defects are clustered.

And yes, we do have mosquito abatement programs here. These programs do not employ the methods noted above.

That's interesting because on Caye Caulker they spray Malathion from a fogger on a truck. What do they do on Ambergris Caye?

The same, in town at least. Malathion is not a larvicide, nasty but not a larvicide.

Thanks for the clarification.

I thought the comment about "These programs do not employ the methods noted above"
was in response to this: "During the summer months when the mosquitos are most active the agency sprays insecticides via trucks with fogger machines".

Fogging with public service announcements for decades reminding people any bit of water can breed mossies. Belize people have lived with this for yrs and monitor stagnant water and remove things in their yard which might become a source. They need water to breed and its only the females who bite and possibly become a vector. Just take a look at our malaria figures and how drastically they have been reduced over the yrs. Why we do not have more issues with mosquito borne diseases. Education!

No, I referred to my own comments on larvicide that were directly above, in the same post.

"Why we do not have more issues with mosquito borne diseases. Education!"

Someone needs to educate the people that have dumped hundreds of opened coconuts on the side of the road across from FC's...