[Contributions made by the Cuban advisory work to the entomological surveillance in Haiti].

Abstract

Introduction: the earthquake occurred in Haiti in January 2010 led to the worsening of the hygienic, sanitary and environmental conditions and increased the number of breeding sites for disease-borne vectors in the country.

Objectives: to report the first results of the entomological surveillance set by the Cuban advisory group in Haiti after the earthquake.

Methods: the work was carried out in 7 sites located in West department, one of the ten departments of the country; larval sampling was conducted in reservoirs and natural breeding sites based on the methodologies for both. The sampling was weekly in the May-October period in 2010.

Results: twelve mosquito species were reported in the West department as well as the presence of Triatoma rubrofasciata. The fundamental breeding sites of the three most important mosquito species were identified including Aedes aegypti with water tanks followed by worn car rubbers and small artificial deposits, Anopheles albimanus in rice fields, animal footprints and coastal swampy plains, and Culex quinquefasciatus, one lymphatic phylarosis-borne vector still existing in Haiti, in drains and waste water ditches.

Conclusions: these results are the first ones from this surveillance program after the earthquake and represent valuable information for the decision-making at the time of designing a control program to face the occurrence of any epidemics in which these insect vectors might be involved in this department.