Aedes aegypti infestation characteristics in several Caribbean countries and implications for integrated community-based control.

Periodic larval surveys for Aedes aegypti were conducted in 11 Caribbean countries between 1983 and 1989. On average, there were 24 potential larval habitats per house including 4.9 which held water at the time of examination. Breteau indices for the various islands ranged from 34.7 to 121.6. In descending order of importance, water storage drums, house plants, buckets, used tires and miscellaneous small discarded containers accounted for 84% of all foci. Highest rates of infestation were found in tires (38.4%) and drums (33.8%). For the development of integrated community-based vector control programs, not only should consideration be given to the larval ecology of Ae. aegypti, but also to the sociological significance of the various container habitats and the selection of control strategies most appropriate for their management.