The mosquito which spreads dengue fever is in Bermuda and Health Minister Nelson Bascome sounded a warning in the House of Assembly yesterday on the importance of eradicating it.

Mr. Bascome gave advice on how to stem population growth of the nasty pest.

"Everyone must tip out standing water at home and at work -- the mantra for last year's Fight the Bite campaign, is unchanged this year,'' he said.

"We need to fight the bite now before summer, and `mosquito season' sets in.'' Bermuda eradicated the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the 1950s, he said, after a serious outbreak of dengue fever. This distinguished the Island in World Health circles as one of only two countries to have ever eradicated the mosquito.

However, Aedes aegypti is back, he added, and the challenge is for Bermuda to eradicate it again.

The House heard that 2001 is off to a promising start, with the number of premises breeding mosquitoes down ten percent from the same period last year.

"As an intermediate goal, we must strive to get below the five percent threshold,'' Mr. Bascome said.

"That means having only one in every twenty premises breeding mosquitoes, making the spread of mosquito-borne diseases unlikely.

He said: "It is the school children who have been our greatest allies in the Fight the Bite campaign so far and I'd like to single them out for special mention.

"When children learn about these insects and how simple it is to control them, they do something about it right away! "We have heard so many encouraging reports about how children are keeping their environment mosquito free. These youth are to be commended and recognised for their diligence and service.'' Keep Bermuda Beautiful, the Rockwatchers, and other volunteer groups also received credit for their help in the campaign. Simply by keeping the Island clean they aid the fight because, as Mr. Bascome noted, "if trash will hold water, mosquitoes will breed in it''.

Mr. Bascome concluded by saying: "Many hands are still needed to make a significant and lasting difference to Bermuda's mosquito situation. Everyone must tip out standing water at home and at work.

"Please, do your part to make Bermuda mosquito free.'' Nelson Bascome