News
Mosquito Numbers Drop as MRCU Continues Control Efforts
The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) is committed to keeping mosquito populations as low as possible and we are working hard using our data-driven methods to protect the Cayman Islands.
Two weeks ago, MRCU issued a mosquito advisory ahead of the Easter weekend. At that time, the average number of mosquitoes caught per trap each day was less than 10. However, a few days later, mosquito numbers increased sharply, reaching a peak of about 70 mosquitoes per trap.
Since then, MRCU has carried out more than 30 ground truck fogging missions and around a dozen aircraft missions across the Cayman Islands. Thanks to these efforts, we have made significant progress in reducing mosquito numbers. While mosquito levels remain higher than usual, MRCU continues to work daily to bring them down even further.
What’s Next: Daytime Larviciding Missions
This week, the MRCU aircraft will be carrying out larviciding missions during the daytime.
Larviciding targets mosquitoes before they grow into biting adults. We apply treatments directly to standing water areas where mosquito larvae live. This approach stops them from developing and helps reduce the number of mosquitoes in the weeks ahead.
Over the last two weeks, the MRCU aircraft focused mainly on adulticiding missions — flying just after sunset to control adult mosquitoes at the time when they are most active.
How You Can Help
We encourage everyone to stay informed by following the MRCU WhatsApp Channel and downloading the MRCU app for the latest updates.
If you are being bitten often, please report the issue directly through the MRCU app or email mrcu@gov.ky with the following information:
- Date you noticed the bites
- Location (address or nearby landmark)
- Time of day
This information helps our team collect important data and focus control efforts where they are most needed. While our data collection has already identified some hotspots, the more reports we receive, the better we can plan our work.
MRCU remains committed to using the best science and data available to protect the health and comfort of all residents and visitors in the Cayman Islands.
We thank the community for their support as we continue our mission to keep mosquito numbers as low as possible.
