The last thing you want to happen on vacation is for you or one of your family members to contract an illness from a mosquito bite.

Similar to other tropical islands, these pesky creatures inhabit Jamaica year-round but they are most active during the wet season, June to November each year.

Therefore, in addition to stocking up with insect repellants, you should find out what mosquito prevention methods the villa, hostel, hotel, or AirBnB you will stay have implemented to reduce your chances of being bitten. 

Of the 3000 species of mosquitoes found globally, only 78 species reside in Jamaica, and of that number, only two species are disease-carrying vectors on the island.

So, the chance of contracting a mosquito-borne illness while vacationing in Jamaica may be slim. 

Safety precautions during Jamaica's wet season

Mosquitoes tend to be more prevalent at dawn and dusk during Jamaica's wet season.

To prevent mosquito bites, wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved clothes, and use your mosquito repellent of choice.

Although cases are less common now and the illnesses are not life-threatening, the Zika, Dengue, and Chik-V viruses are carried by mosquitoes native to the region.

Symptoms include headache, fever, rash, and joint pain.

Pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems should take extra precautions to avoid being bitten as the symptoms can become more complicated.

Additionally, wherever you choose to stay in Jamaica, practice proper disposal of garbage.

Empty cans, pans, and buckets are prime mosquito breeding sites so never leave them laying around in the grass or on the ground.

Also, keep trash bins closed at all times as excess fluid from kitchen waste may attract mosquitoes. 

Jamaica's Ministry of Health schedules fogging exercises in every parish on the island, especially in secluded, rural areas surrounded by thick forestry.

If you happen to be staying at a villa in Jamaica during a fogging exercise, keep windows and doors open so that the insecticide can permeate your temporary living quarters and get rid of those uninvited guests. 

The quantity of the insecticide being sprayed should not be harmful to humans.