News

The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) is advising residents across all three Cayman Islands to expect an increase in mosquito activity over the coming days, following higher than normal tides in wetland areas combined with increased rainfall.

The operation will begin the West Bay and progressively move east across the island. It is expected to take approximately one week to complete, weather permitting

MRCU and the University of Glasgow were the only international organisations invited to participate and present at the symposium

Elevated tides have repeatedly pushed water into large areas of low-lying wetland, including locations that may remain dry for extended periods. This creates ideal conditions for large numbers of dormant mosquito eggs to hatch at approximately the same time

This will be the second noticeable increase during the current mosquito and rainy season and is consistent with the seasonal conditions typically experienced at this time of year

“I was quite ill, and he noticed that I wasn't breathing well at all. He insisted that he wasn't going to leave until the ambulance arrived because no one else was there with me.” –Ms. Viv

Unit (MRCU) recently participated in the department's annual safety and professional development workshop, strengthening their knowledge of industry best practices and reinforcing MRCU's commitment to continuous learning, workplace safety and operational excellence

Despite the challenges, MRCU remains optimistic as the data show mosquito numbers trending down. However, with the recent rainfall, additional mosquito emergences are expected. Mosquito numbers commonly increase around 10 days after heavy rainfall events, depending on the amount of standing water and conditions in breeding areas