On Wednesday, 27 January 2016, the Ministry of Public Works joined in the plans to prevent and reduce the presence of the Zika virus by deploying a large-scale fumigation and clean-up operation in the high-density, low-income neighborhood of Los Guaricanos and surrounding areas. The campaign, composed of the Ministry, the Santo Domingo North Mayor’s office and the Dominican Army also involves local neighborhood associations. It includes spraying, refuse collection and public education for residents of the municipalities of Santo Domingo North and surrounding areas. The campaign is aimed at preventing the Zika vector, the Aedes Aegypti mosquito from breeding and spreading. This mosquito also spreads Chikungunya and dengue fever, as well as malaria and yellow fever.
The operation also involves cleaning up creeks and waterways in all of the neighborhoods combined with an awareness campaign, and mosquito net and chlorine distribution to residents of several Santo Domingo North neighborhoods.
