Concern is growing about the continued spread of the mosquito that passes on deadly Dengue Fever.

The Dengue Fever-carrying mosquito was eradicated in Bermuda in the 1940s.

But Bermuda could have an outbreak if just one visitor or resident returning to the Island is suffering from the disease and gets bitten by the mosquito.

It is feared the mosquito could then pass on the disease to others.

The mosquito is flourishing in the central parishes of Pembroke, Paget, and Warwick and Health Ministry officials are appealing for the public's help in destroying its habitat.

Environmental health officer David Kendall is leading a 20-strong task force in tackling people's habits of allowing water to stand, which gives the mosquito larvae a chance to change into the full grown -- and blood sucking -- mosquito.

The task force is travelling about the infested area and destroying the breeding sites and is setting up sites to monitor the Aedes aegypti mosquito's spread.

Mr. Kendall is also appealing to the public to secure their dogs as the teams look for mosquito breed sites. Dengue Fever's symptoms "are like the flu times ten'', Mr. Kendall said, warning the illness could be fatal if not diagnosed or treated.

Victims get high fevers, head colds, headaches, numbing pain throughout the body, aching in joints, and even a rash about the torso.

Mr. Kendall said the present boundaries of the mosquito infestation were Pembroke eastward to Dock Hill, and from the Paget traffic lights west to the eastern most portion of Southampton.

"This is February and the coldest month and we are concerned that we are coming across new breeding sites,'' Mr. Kendall said. "We have got our work cut out for us to stop this.'' He added: "It is important for people to realise that they need to take action on this. Summer is the breeding season and mosquitoes will reproduce very, very rapidly.'' Island on mosquito alert Mr. Kendall explained the mosquito was a specialist in attacking humans and lays its eggs a short distance above standing water -- the kind usually left by people -- rather than marsh or pond water like its cousins.

"It's not even the kind that whines in the ear at night,'' he added. "It is very surreptitious. And it really likes to lay eggs in the trash that people throw away. It means people are nearby.'' Asked if there could be an outbreak of the viral disease, Mr. Kendall said: "That's the worst case scenario. That's just what we don't want to happen. If someone comes back from overseas with Dengue Fever, everything changes.'' He added: "We are asking people to be vigilant.'' He said that older people would remember the eradication programme and would have practised eliminating standing water sites over the years.

Mr. Kendall concluded: "In order for it to become extinct in Bermuda again, we need people to destroy its habitat.'' If not, the Island may have to resort to more drastic measures like spraying pesticides.

Editorial: Page 4 Danger: The map shows the boundaries of the mosquito infestation.