The Tribune

ENVIRONMENT Minister Kenred Dorsett, member of Parliament for Southern Shores, is hosting a joint Zika Prevention and Hurricane Preparedness Forum tonight at Garvin Tynes Primary School.

The forum will bring together officials from the Meteorological Office, Department of Environmental Health and Pinewood Urban Renewal.

Mr Dorsett said it is imperative that citizens remain vigilant and take proactive steps to prevent the spread of the Zika virus that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

“We want to close any gap of knowledge about the transmission of the Zika virus as an informed populace is requisite for success and survival,” said Mr Dorsett in a press release.

With regard to hurricane preparedness, Mr Dorsett said educating residents on how to prepare and remain safe during the passage of storms could save someone’s life.

“Adhering to hurricane safety measures can protect individuals and their loved ones as hurricanes can destroy landmarks, family dwellings and take lives,” he said.

“While our hurricane season began on June 1 we understand that we are presently in the peak of activity until mid-October, but whether we are in a period of low activity or spiked activity we must always be prepared.”

He said invaluable information will be presented by officials representing the two government agencies and police officers attached to Pinewood Urban Renewal.

From the start of September, Mr Dorsett organised the Southern Shores Zika Prevention Team consisting of area residents. The team is on the ground each Saturday to locate breeding grounds of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, remove them and educate residents on protecting themselves against contracting Zika.

Zika is a mosquito borne virus transmitted primarily by bites from the Aedes ageypti mosquito which breeds in standing water. The virus can also be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected partner. Zika infections can cause severe birth defects in newborns known as microcephaly in which the babies are born with extremely small heads.

There have been several cases reported in New Providence.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30. The forum starts at 7pm.