Mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a major public health threat across the Caribbean and the wider world, prompting regional health officials to intensify prevention efforts through education and community action.
Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, malaria and chikungunya have long been affecting people across the world. According to the World Health Organization, vector-borne diseases “account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more than 700,000 deaths annually.”
Director for Corporate Services at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. Mark Sami, says adopting source reduction methods will aid in preventing breeding sites for mosquitoes.
“Today’s launch is therefore not simply about raising awareness, it’s about inspiring action. One of the most effective ways to prevent mosquito-borne disease is through source reduction. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s removing the places where mosquitoes breed. A single bottle cap, an old tyre, a flowerpot tray, a blocked drain, an uncovered barrel with standing water can become a breeding site for mosquitoes.”
As part of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2026, CARPHA is engaging students and communities across Trinidad and Tobago in source reduction and strengthening awareness about vector control.
Medical Officer at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Matthew Desaine, says this is essential as children are agents of change.
“When our students are engaged in health education, environmental stewardship and community action, they become the messengers of prevention. They remind us, adults, sometimes that, you know, we need to empty the water containers, they are the ones looking out for the breeding sites, they participate in the clean-up campaigns. They remind us to help to build a culture of responsibility.”
Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division at CARPHA, Dr. Horace Cox, noted that CARPHA is also working on developing innovative tools to help with climate data integration.
“They’ve worked with collaborators to develop some models that will help them to use the climate data to inform any potential public health events tied to dengue. So what happens is that if that prediction is given with some level of certainty, one to three months prior to the event happening, then there’s an early opportunity for us to intervene, and we maximise the possibility of an effective intervention.”
The Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week is a regional campaign held under the theme “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction” with the tagline “Keep Mosquitoes Away, Clean Up Today!”