Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Chief public-health-inspector for St Catherine, Richard Baker, said residents must fight the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the spread of diseases.

Baker told the St Catherine Parish Council the spread of mosquito-borne diseases were imminent in the Caribbean.

He said cleaning of areas will rid areas of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which causes the zicka virus, malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya.

He said the vector must be eradicated to deal with the problem.

"There is a strain of black stubborn mosquitos that are here but we need to deal with the breeding sites for the mosquitos to stop the problem," Baker said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the St Catherine Parish Council, Norman Scott, said the best of the 90 community-based health volunteers, who were trained by the health department, will be used to assist in identifying breeding sites.

Scott said the parish council will also embark on the removal of large items where mosquitos normally lay eggs.