The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working to improve Jamaica’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to vector-borne diseases through the Zika AIRS Project (ZAP).
Five communities in Yallahs, St. Thomas and sections of Kingston and St. Andrew will be included in a pilot project slated to begin on Monday.
The project will include testing for insecticide resistance, determining the most effective vector control activities and monitoring the impact of these activities.
ZAP’s environmental management activities include cleaning up around houses to eliminate places where mosquitoes can breed.
ZAP will also work towards reducing the mosquito population through larviciding.
The project will be spearheaded by an entomologist from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus where a mosquito control unit was established.
