AN intensive search-and-destroy operation has been mounted against the deadly Aedes aegypti mosquito in St. James.

It comes after dengue fever, spread by the mosquito, is suspected to have claimed the life of 24-year-old Maurice Russell, of Baywoods, Orange Hill, on Monday.

A first wave of environmental health officers from the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health moved into Orange Hill Wednesday to search the homes immediately in the vicinity of Russell's former residence.

Six homes were found breeding mosquitoes.

A second team of about a dozen officers is now inspecting several districts comprising over 1 500 homes, a Ministry of Health official told the SATURDAY SUN.

This team is expected to complete operations by month-end.

The official said that even before news of Russell's death, they were concerned about the level of mosquito infestation in the area and planned to mount an intensive investigation.

He added that as soon as the ministry was notified someone was ill from the mosquito-borne disease, officers immediately checked the person's home and surroundings, but problems occurred when doctors either failed to or were tardy in reporting the matter to the ministry.

"Sometimes by the time we are notified, it is weeks after the person goes back to work, and sometimes it is pointless," said the source in the Ministry of Health.

Since the outbreak of dengue fever in 1995, over 6 400 people have become ill from the mosquito-borne disease.