Tag: Mosquito Research and Control Unit

Respiratory illnesses spike amid new COVID strain

Respiratory illnesses spike amid new COVID strain

| 27/12/2023 | 14 Comments

(CNS): The Ministry of Health and Wellness expects that respiratory illnesses will continue to increase over the course of the holiday season and in January due to travel, the influx of arrivals, and an increase in the number and size of gatherings. The World Health Organization has also classified the JN.1 strain of COVID-19 as […]

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MRCU cranks up efforts in the face of August rain

MRCU cranks up efforts in the face of August rain

| 22/08/2023 | 9 Comments

(CNS): After two very hot dry months, August has been particularly wet so far, leading to an increase in mosquitoes, and the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) has been doubling efforts in response. MRCU Director Dr Alan Wheeler noted that it has rained almost every day this month and mosquito numbers are now high, […]

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MRCU issues warning despite larvicide efforts

MRCU issues warning despite larvicide efforts

| 07/06/2023 | 11 Comments

(CNS): The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) has just completed its largest-ever pre-season larvicide treatment, which covered almost 15,000 acres. Despite this, MRCU Director Dr Alan Wheeler warned that a large emergence of mosquitoes is expected over the coming days as the wet weather continues.

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MRCU takes aim at larvae ahead of rain

MRCU takes aim at larvae ahead of rain

| 22/05/2023 | 6 Comments

(CNS): Ahead of the first major rainfall of the year, the Mosquito Research and Control Unit has begun the annual pre-hatch treatment of mosquito larvae across the Cayman Islands’ major breeding sites. This is a preventative control method that kills the pests before they develop into biting adults looking for a blood meal. 

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Mosquito surge expected in wake of early rain

Mosquito surge expected in wake of early rain

| 22/03/2023 | 37 Comments

(CNS): The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) said it is expecting a significant emergence of the pests from Sunday evening resulting from early rain and high tides. Despite widescale residual larviciding treatment before the rain, the MRCU still expects a mosquito problem due to the extent of the flooding. 

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Imported dengue case on Brac but no local spread

Imported dengue case on Brac but no local spread

| 07/11/2022 | 3 Comments

(CNS): The Public Health Department has confirmed one case of dengue fever on Cayman Brac in an individual who had travelled from a country where the virus is common but said there had been no local transmission of the mosquito-borne virus. Although there was one previous case in August, PHD said there had been no […]

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Cayman sees first case of dengue in three years

Cayman sees first case of dengue in three years

| 26/08/2022 | 34 Comments

(CNS): The Public Health Department has confirmed a case of dengue fever in the Cayman Islands this week, the first for three years. Officials have not said if the individual suffering from the mosquito-borne viral disease had a travel history to a place where it is prevalent but did confirm there had been no local […]

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Mosquito trouble is the worst for decades

Mosquito trouble is the worst for decades

| 06/09/2021 | 73 Comments

(CNS): Mosquito and Research Control Unit Director Dr Alan Wheeler has blamed the worst mosquito problems for two decades on a number of natural factors, such as COVID-19 and Tropical Storm Grace, but not the management issues that have surrounded the MRCU over the last two years. Wheeler, who was appointed as director in July […]

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Surge of marsh mosquitoes expected

Surge of marsh mosquitoes expected

| 03/05/2021 | 7 Comments

(CNS): The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) is warning residents to expect another surge of the native black salt marsh mosquito as a result of the high tides that began last month and have caused flooding in the mangrove breeding areas of the swamp. Eggs laid around the time of the 20 April high […]

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MRCU leadership inquiry still unresolved

MRCU leadership inquiry still unresolved

| 21/10/2020 | 20 Comments

(CNS): Neither the minister responsible for mosquito control nor the deputy governor responsible for the civil service were prepared to offer an update into the current leadership inquiry at the Mosquito Research and Control Unit when they were asked on Wednesday. Answering an MLA’s question in the Legislative Assembly about the status of the director […]

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MRCU methods revert but no news on inquiry

MRCU methods revert but no news on inquiry

| 15/09/2020 | 33 Comments

(CNS): Minister Dwayne Seymour has made no further comment about complaints made by staff at the Mosquito Research and Control Unit that the director was undermining the work of the critical department. But the minister responsible for the MRCU has revealed that efforts to combat the pest have reverted to tried and tested methods. Seymour […]

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