The dengue mosquito, or scientifically called the Aedes aegypti mosquito, breeds in Santa Catarina. According to a bulletin from the Epidemiological Surveillance Council (Dive/SC), the state has already recorded more than 14,000 mosquito outbreaks, in 194 municipalities.

We have repeatedly warned of the need to combat this mosquito, whose first action in this epidemic war is to know who the enemy is. This mosquito, or mosquito, which transmits dengue and yellow fever, as well as Zika and chikungunya, has a characteristic that sets it apart from other mosquitoes. The head, trunk and legs are provided with white stripes. Originally from Africa, it was exterminated from our lands in the mid-1950s, but returned after 20 years.

The second combative action is knowing your habits. It adapts and reproduces in tropical countries due to heat, humidity and rain. The climatic characteristics of many of the municipalities in our state make it the ideal habitat for the Aedes aegypti weed. Then we come to the third and final combat action, which consists of knowing where it is, determining its weak point, and attacking. Their eggs are deposited in warm, moist places, near the waterline, in any vessels with standing water. The male feeds on plant sap, and the female feeds on human blood.

The good news is that Santa Catarina is packed. The Intersectoral Committee for Monitoring and Control Actions for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito has begun planning intersectoral measures for control and prevention. In fact, this is a task that requires a joint effort by the government and the population.