Mosquito infestation at the Garrison Secondary School forced its closure yesterday.
Deputy Chief Education Officer Joy Gittens said there were reports of an infestation of mosquitoes and the Ministry of Education was called in to investigate.
She said there were several drains around the school and the eradication of mosquito breeding sites had been a major cause for concern. However, there had not been any reported cases of dengue infection among the staff and students.
Senior environmental health officer with the Vector Control Unit (VCU), Maurice Gaskin, said that in response to a complaint, personnel from the unit visited the school last Friday and found mosquito larvae, which were treated.
The VCU also carried out fogging in the area yesterday morning, following a request from principal Matthew Farley.
Gaskin said since the VCU responded to and investigated only complaints made, the unit did not have an active programme in relation to schools, although it was assisting schools and district hospitals through fogging.
Meanwhile, Gittens spoke of a VCU training workshop being conducted for secondary schools this week. The programme offers theoretical and practical training in the control of mosquitoes, rodents, flies, roaches and bedbugs at school, work and home. (LK)
