Abstract
The tourist-based economy of Belize, a tropical hub for eco-tourism, is at high risk to be disproportionately impacted by established and emerging mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika. An online survey was used to probe economic stakeholders working in the Belize tourism industry about their mosquito control practices and perceptions. Responses demonstrated that the respondents have good working knowledge of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses. Most businesses surveyed engage in some means of mosquito control, either through larval source reduction or use of insecticides on the premises. Larvicide use was significantly correlated with a general willingness to use insecticides, as well as belief that treatment of water will reduce mosquito densities and disease transmission. A majority of the respondents agreed that they would be interested in buying a new larvicide to be used on the business premises if it were shown to be safe and effective. The safety of mosquito control products for humans, animals, plants, and the environment in general, followed by product effectiveness, are the most critical determinants of mosquito control purchasing decisions. A majority of respondents agreed that control of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses is central to the success of their tourist-based industry. Respondents expressed significant concern that the Zika epidemic was over-sensationalized by the media, and that this negatively impacted their livelihoods. The respondents, many of whom are associated with eco/sustainable businesses, also voiced concerns that chemical pesticides could have a negative impact on human health and the environment and expressed a desire for balance between effective mosquito control and preservation of the rich biodiversity of Belize. This study provided a framework for further engagement activities in Belize and other Caribbean nations, uncovered both concerns and support for emerging mosquito control technologies, and revealed opportunities for further debate and educational outreach efforts.
Highlights
Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and Zika are spread primarily through the bite of infected female Aedes mosquitoes
84% of the respondents agreed that treating water where mosquitoes breed will reduce disease transmission (Fig 3B and Table 3). 87% of the respondents said that they or someone at their business regularly took action to remove standing water around the property to control mosquitoes (Fig 3C and Table 3), and 88% of these individuals indicated that they did so at least once a month or more during the rainy season (Fig 3D and Table 3). 58% of the survey respondents indicated that they used insecticides around the property (Fig 3E and Table 3). These results suggest that most economic stakeholders surveyed had reasonable knowledge of disease vector mosquitoes and made some efforts, either through larval source reduction or use of insecticides, to control mosquitoes on their properties
The responders were queried regarding their willingness to use new products and technologies for mosquito control. 53% of the respondents agreed that they would be interested in buying a new larvicide to be used on the business premises once it had been shown to be safe and effective (Table 6)
Summary
Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and Zika are spread primarily through the bite of infected female Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue is one of the most significant mosquito-borne illnesses in the tropics and subtropics. More than a third of the world’s population is at risk for contracting dengue virus, and as many as 400 million people are infected annually. In addition to being transmitted by mosquitoes, Zika virus can be transmitted sexually, and it can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Fetal infection with Zika virus can result in severe birth defects, including microcephaly. Cases of Zika, which have been linked to Guillain-Barresyndrome, a serious neurological disorder, are currently occurring in many countries in the Americas, including Belize [3, 4]
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