PHILIPSBURG--The Collective Preventive Services (CPS) is advising residents to be proactive and take preventative measures against mosquito breeding in order to avoid mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever developing.

Contractors on job sites are advised to empty buckets and cover water storage drums and have the site cleaned up at the end of the work day of anything that can hold water, even plastic bags.

Measures that residents must take to prevent mosquito breeding are:

Debris, old tires and stagnant water in yards are the source or can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes bringing about an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases, Government Information Services (GIS) said in a press release.

Residents are therefore strongly advised to take action making sure that there is no stagnant water in their yards and roof spouts; and disposing responsibly of old tires, empty drums, buckets, jars, birdbaths, boats, plant containers, paint cans and other items that can collect water around their homes and businesses.

In the case where containers are used for storing water, residents should keep these covered. Inlets and outlets of cisterns must be covered with a mosquito net or cloth to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the water.

Persons or businesses making use of the landfill in Philipsburg for the dumping of barrels, buckets or anything that can hold water should cut holes into the items to avoid the accumulation of water.

Mosquito fogging can't take place due to the intermittent rain showers.