Sailors assigned to Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit (NEPMU) 2 conducted a mosquito surveillance and familiarization knowledge exchange and training (KET) with the Guatemalan Ministry of Public Health, Feb. 6-7, in support of Continuing Promise 2017 (CP-17).

The team gave presentations on visual markings, feeding habits, and surveillance, ensuring insect control agents use the best methods for managing mosquito population levels when placing traps in local areas.

"One of the common mistakes people sometimes make is confusing other flying insects with mosquitoes, like the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus -- two species found here in Guatemala," said Lt. Cmdr. Jinaki Gourdine, an entomologist who led the KET. "Knowing what they look like and their characteristics will enable vector control agents to study and put controls in place for them."

Vector, or insect control, agents help get a better understanding of differences between species, which entails keeping a keen eye on their subjects.

"Mosquito surveillance is important for a number of reasons, including helping us answer questions such as, 'Will an insect cause a disease if it bites me or is it just a nuisance?'" said Gourdine. "During the surveillance phase, we work together to determine the level of risk for diseases like malaria, implement controls, and gauge how effective they are."

Preventing the spread of dengue fever, chikungunya, or other illnesses to humans depends largely on controls, she said. Filling in ditches which routinely accumulate rainwater and emptying tires or blocked gutters prevent creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes responsible for spreading diseases to humans in their surrounding area.

The two-day KET also gave the NEPMU 2 team an opportunity to demonstrate proper personal protective equipment (PPE) usage for agents when spraying insect repellents.

Chemicals used in repellents can affect the skin, eyes, and lungs if used improperly, Gourdine said.

After the classroom lecture, agents were divided into groups and practiced laying various mosquito traps based on the training they received.

"The purpose of the training was to provide sustainable and durable mosquito controls to vector control personnel, strengthen their level of knowledge, foster independence, and leave them with skills that won't diminish after training is done," said NEPMU 2 Officer in Charge Lt. Cmdr. Lucas Johnson. "I think we accomplished that today."

Local insect control coordinator Hector Soriano agreed, adding prior KETs have helped build capabilities in the region.

"Working with doctors from previous Continuing Promise missions, we have been able to research mosquitoes in Puerto Barrios and were able to decide what type of training would benefit the agents most when doctors returned," he said. "We were very thankful for having the team come back and continue to build on the skills our agents have received, and are truly grateful for what we learned through this training."

Similar KETs on mosquito surveillance disease prevention are planned for the remaining mission stops in Colombia and Honduras.

CP-17 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian assistance, training engagements, and medical, dental, and veterinary support in an effort to show U.S. support and commitment to Central and South America.

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