Government yesterday launched a publicity blitz to prevent the Island succumbing to an epidemic of Dengue Fever.

The mosquito which can transmit the fever arrived on the Island two years ago after an absence of 40 years, and it is now multiplying in every parish except Smith's and Hamilton Parish.

In some parts of Warwick, every second household is a breeding ground for the mosquito, Aedes aegypti .

Government health officials are now urging householders, businesses and schoolchildren to tip out any standing water to prevent the mosquito from breeding. All it will take to spark an epidemic is for a visitor from the Caribbean who is infected with the fever to come to the Island and be bitten.

A mosquito which bites an infected person can then bite others and pass on the disease.

Pest Control Supervisor David Kendell said yesterday: "The danger is, if someone comes from the Caribbean and has Dengue Fever -- it is the rainy season and some islands are having an outbreak of Dengue Fever -- and comes to Bermuda, the mosquito could bite them and start off a chain reaction. That is why everyone must maintain their own property and keep it free of mosquitoes.

"The bottom line is we need to get rid of all sources of standing water and we need everyone to help us.'' The fever is not life-threatening, but its symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle ache, and joint pain between three and 14 days after exposure.

Alert over Dengue Fever Victims have to "sweat out'' the fever.

The six-month publicity campaign, called "Fight the Bite,'' includes a television commercial, a documentary, and visits to schools and homes throughout the Island.

Householders are being urged to tip out standing water at source, including buckets, plant pots, barrels and tyres. Uncovered water tanks on half-built houses should be covered over.

The mosquito larvae, which looks like a quarter inch long worm that swims in a snake-like motion, breeds in water for about a week before the adult flies away. The larvae dies if the water is tipped away.

Government called in Dr. Samuel Rawlins of the Pan America Health Organisation in August to offer advice after the mosquito was discovered.

Mr. Kendell said: "His message was that we've now got enough mosquitoes and we don't do an elimination campaign, six months or a year down the road we might regret it.'' An action team drawing people from Environmental Health, Works and Engineering, the Department of Health, Keep Bermuda Beautiful, and the Bermuda Aquarium and Marine Zoo, is co-ordinating the campaign.

Pest Control officers are visiting homes throughout the Island on a postcode basis.

They have made 2,000 visits to homes and set 170 traps across the Island to detect the mosquitoes. Environmental Health officers are targeting half-built water tanks on building sites and car tyres. Householders who refuse warnings to keep their homes free of mosquitoes could be taken to court and fined under a "three strikes and you're out'' policy, said Mr. Kendell.

If inspection officers find larvae on a property they will leave a letter for the owner. If it occurs a second time, they will get a written warning.

If larvae or mosquitoes are found on a third occasion, environmental health officers will collect larvae samples and prosecute the owner.

Pest Control is also handing out free mosquito-eating guppy fish to control the pests.

Studies in the Caribbean show the Aedes aegypti is highly domesticated and can be found in closets and indoor plant pots.

It is thought the pest arrived on the Island in terra cotta pots imported in containers from China, Vietnam, Malaysia or Mexico. The eggs can survive for a year out of water, but will begin growing if the pots are allowed to gather water.