The Mosquito Control Regulations, S.R.O. no. 6 of 1954

Public Health Act CAP. 9.21 53 Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS FIFTEENTH SCHEDULE (Section 11) MOSQUITO CONTROL REGULATIONS Short title. 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Mosquito Control Regulations. Interpretation. 2. In these Regulations— “Department” means the Medical and Health Department of the State; “member of the Department” includes the Senior Medical Officer, any other Medical Officer, the Chief Sanitary Inspector, any Sanitary Inspector, any person appointed by the Senior Medical Officer to be Supervisor of the Mosquito Control Programme and any person employed to spray premises by mechanical means; “Senior Medical Officer” means the Officer for the time being performing the duties of Head of the Health Department of the State; “to inspect premises” means to inspect premises to ascertain the presence of mosquitoes and to examine any water in or upon any premises whether contained in a receptacle or not, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it contains any of the immature stages of the mosquito; “to spray premises” means to treat all buildings, and any other structure, and their contents with Dichloro Diphenyl Trichlorethane or any other form of insecticide ordered by the Senior Medical Officer. Spraying of Premises. 3. It shall be lawful for any member of the Department to spray premises when ordered by the Senior Medical Officer or any other Medical Officer so to do. Inspection of Premises. 4. When ordered by the Senior Medical Officer or any other Medical Officer so to do it shall be lawful for any member of the Department, between the hours of seven in the morning and six in the afternoon of any day, to inspect premises and to examine all articles likely to contain water found in or upon such premises: Provided that in the case of business premises the said inspection shall take place during any period of time in which the business may be in progress. Notice of Spraying. 5. (1) No premises shall be sprayed unless at least twenty-four hours notice in writing of such spraying shall have been given to the occupier of such premises: Provided that in the case of perifocal spraying, premises may be sprayed without any notice of such spraying being given to the occupier of such premises. (2) In this regulation, the expression “perifocal spraying” means the application of Dichloro Diphenyl Trichlorethane or other insecticide approved by the Senior Medical Officer and applied by the use of a small hand pump to the inside of 54 CAP. 9.21 Public Health Act Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS containers which hold or may hold water and to any surface with which such containers may be contiguous. Duties of Occupiers. 6. (1) When notified that premises are to be sprayed, the occupiers thereof shall, before the time fixed for spraying, remove all foodstuffs, clothing and any other article which they have been warned may be damaged by spraying: Provided that they shall not remove mosquito nets and bedding which shall be sprayed. (2) The occupiers of premises which are being sprayed shall extinguish all fires and naked flames on the premises during the process of spraying. Limitations on Spraying. 7. (1) Mattresses shall not be sprayed if objection thereto is taken by the owners thereof. (2) Only the outside of the backs of food safes shall be sprayed. Receptacles for Storage of Water. 8. (1) The owner or occupier of premises shall place all tanks, drums, vats, barrels, or other receptacles intended for the storage of water in such positions that they are accessible for inspection of their contents. (2) All wall-tanks shall be placed not less than six inches from the nearest wall and not less than fifteen inches from the nearest part of the ceiling or roof: Provided that automatic flushing tanks may be affixed to, or placed within six inches of a wall, if inspection of the contents thereof is convenient. (3) When a member of the Department has completed his or her inspection of the contents of any tank, drum, vat, barrel, or other receptacle intended for the storage of water the owner or occupier of the premises shall forthwith render such receptacle mosquito-proof. Covered Drains and Sewer-traps. 9. (1) Each covered drain shall be provided with an inspection chamber which shall be placed in a position which is easily accessible for the purpose of inspection. (2) All sewer-traps shall be placed in positions which are easily accessible for the purpose of inspection. Drinking Water for Animals. 10. All receptacles used to provide drinking water for animals or poultry shall be such as can be quickly and completely emptied at any time. Wells. 11. All wells shall be rendered and kept mosquito-proof or permanently stocked with larvivorous fish of a species to be approved by the Senior Medical Officer. Public Health Act CAP. 9.21 55 Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS Finding of Mosquitoes in Aquatic Stages. 12. If any member of the Department finds any mosquito in its aquatic stages in any water or in any receptacle containing water, he or she shall, according to his or her judgment and the circumstances of the case— (a) apply the larvicide used by the Department; (b) require the occupier of the premises to stock the water with larvivorous fish of a species approved by the Senior Medical Officer; (c) render the receptacle, if it be of little or no commercial value, incapable of holding water; or (d) report the matter to the Senior Medical Officer or any other Medical Officer. Inspection Cards. 13. Any member of the Department may affix a card or other document to any tank or vat, or in any inconspicuous position on any premises for the purpose of recording notes or any inspection of a tank or other receptacle containing water, and no person may remove or deface any such card or document. Roof-Gutters. 14. (1) Roof-gutters shall have sufficient capacity and fall to ensure that the rain water will not be retained at any point thereof. (2) Wherever there are roof-gutters, the owner thereof shall arrange that the roof-gutters shall be accessible for inspection. (3) If any member of the Department finds mosquitoes in their aquatic stages in water collected in a roof-gutter he or she shall give notice thereof in writing to the person responsible for the maintenance of the roof-gutter and such person shall forthwith take action to prevent the said mosquitoes from being in the roof-gutter. (4) Owners or occupiers of premises shall keep trimmed and free from mosquito larvae all trees, shrubs, hedges, and plants, and prevent all trees and shrubs from overhanging roof-gutters on their or any other person’s premises. Storing of Water. 15. Where no declaration under the Public Health Act, Cap. 9.21 is in force in respect of any area the following provisions shall apply to such area— (a) water may be stored in barrels, large vessels, or other similar water containers; (b) such barrels, large vessels, or other similar containers, shall conform to models approved from time to time by the Department for the purpose of such storage; (c) such barrels, large vessels, or other similar water containers, where used for storing water, shall be mosquito-proofed or kept constantly stocked with larvivorous fish provided and maintained by the occupier of the premises, such fish being of a species approved by the Department; 56 CAP. 9.21 Public Health Act Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS (d) artificial ponds, lakes, and basins which contain water shall be stocked with larvivorous fish provided and maintained by the occupier of the premises, such fish being of a species approved by the Department. Drainage of Water from Buildings and Premises. 16. (1) No part of any building or premises or of any wall or other structure surrounding such building or premises shall be so constructed as to be capable of retaining water unless provision is made whereby such water may easily be drained therefrom. (2) Upon notice in writing being given by the Department to the owner of any building or premises or of any wall or other structure as aforesaid that any part thereof is capable of retaining water and that no provision is made whereby such water may easily be drained therefrom such owner shall forthwith cause the said part to be constructed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this regulation. Cemeteries. 17. (1) Flower vases, jars, jardinières and other ornamental articles in cemeteries shall not be allowed to contain water. (2) Any such receptacle shall be permanently filled with sand. (3) Mausoleums, vaults, and burial urns shall be maintained in such a condition as not to collect water. (4) The owner or occupier of a cemetery shall be responsible for ensuring that water does not collect in excavations or tombs therein. Stagnant Water. 18. (1) No person shall expose any empty bottle (broken or otherwise), empty tin, coconut shell, uncovered barrel, box or any other article in such manner as to cause the same to be a receptacle for stagnant water or a breeding place for mosquitoes. (2) The presence of mosquito larvae in any collection of water shall be proof that such water is stagnant. Hindrance or Obstruction Prohibited. 19. No person shall hinder or obstruct any member of the Department whilst such member is acting in the execution of any duty imposed upon him or her by these regulations. Penalty. 20. Any person who neglects, disobeys or fails to comply with any of the provisions of regulations 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 (1) and 19, shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars. (Amended by Acts 7 of 1976 and 9 of 1986)