Dengue breeding site in mansion of jailed corruption suspect

MINISTRY OF HEALTH officials have detected a mosquito breeding site at the former residence of the former director of the National Assistance Program (PAN) Rafael Juardia Jaen in Costa Del Este. Guardia is in jail awaiting trial on multiple corruption charges during his two years in office, when he stashed some $20 million in local and foreign banks, and purchased the now infested mansion.
Mosquitoes were found breeding in of the pool filters and a nearby source of water for the pool.
Vector control personnel sprayed insecticide to prevent breeding of Aedes aegypti carrying diseases like dengue and chikungunya.
Last week, health officials accompanied by media, tried to enter the house to detect Aedes aegypti breeding sites, but the gated community management prevented access.
Aurelio Rangel, director of the Metropolitan Health Region, said that even a private and restricted residential area “may be subject to sanctions if they do not meet health standards.”
The property, valued at more than $1 million, is closed and the custody of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, responsible for maintenance.
MoH show that during the last dengue epidemic in December 2014 and January 2015, there were 5,400 reported cases and 16 fatalities with the largest number of cases in the metropolitan area.