BugOut
Initiated in 2017 on Virgin Gorda, this internationally recognised community-driven programme has successfully suppressed the invasive, disease-causing Aedes aegypti mosquito in key resorts. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes cause diseases such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Innovation, education, clean-ups and community participation are integrated into safe, data-driven integrated vector control operations. We continue to partner with the Government to expand mosquito awareness and community action throughout the BVI.
MOSQUITOES COLLECTED & IDENTIFIED
PROPERTY BREEDING SITE INSPECTIONS 25/26
RESORTS WITH 1.5+ YEARS OF SUSTAINED SUPPRESSION
SCHOOLS WITH MOSQUITO REDUCTION PROTOCOLS
How we do it
SAFE VECTOR CONTROL
Driven by our Community Vector Control Officers and developed by some of the world’s best minds on mosquito control efforts, we work to deliver effective, state-of-the-art, and environmentally safe mosquito control efforts. This includes interventions, such as eco-friendly larvicides, clean-ups, removal of standing water, and infrastructure repairs, as well as innovative methods such as the Wolbachia tool.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Effective mosquito control and disease prevention require active participation from all of us – starting in our own backyards! On Virgin Gorda, Green VI’s BugOut Vector Control team works alongside resorts, residents, and homeowners to implement sustainable mosquito management solutions. Protect your household, family, and neighbors with our practical tools and educational materials.
DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH
The BugOut programme includes ongoing surveillance and monitoring to capture data on mosquito numbers, species and gender. Breeding hotspots are identified and treated quickly. In addition, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Surveys are conducted.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Click on the tiles below to learn how to reduce mosquitoes and keep you, your family & your neighbours safe:
Make your home a mosquito-free zone! You have the power!
Effective mosquito control and disease prevention require active participation from everyone – starting right in our own backyards! Green VI’s BugOut programme provides the education, tools, and on-the-ground support needed to empower every resident. On Virgin Gorda, our BugOut Vector Control team works directly with residents and homeowners to inspect properties, eliminate standing water hazards, and implement lasting prevention strategies. Protect your household and community today with our comprehensive library of home protection checklists, property guides, and practical tips: Click here
Protecting Workplaces & Customers: BugOut for Businesses
Businesses large and small play a vital role in preventing vector-borne diseases across the British Virgin Islands. Every commercial property on Virgin Gorda should maintain an active plan to eliminate Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding grounds – safeguarding employees, protecting customers, and ensuring business continuity. Green VI encourages all businesses to implement BugOut’s 3 C’s for the Workplace:
- Clean-up: Form a dedicated team of staff and management to regularly inspect your grounds and eliminate standing water hazards.
- Communicate: Discuss vector risks with employees and customers to ensure everyone knows how to spot breeding sites and prevent bites.
- Cover-up: Use eco-friendly bug spray or light, long sleeve or trousers to minimise bites.
Take a look at our resources page here for helpful posters and information to use within your workplace or business. Contact us to arrange a visit from one of our team.
Inspiring the Next Generation: BugOut in BVI Schools
Students and educators play a pivotal role in preventing vector-borne diseases across our islands. The BugOut team visits classrooms throughout the school year, delivering dynamic, interactive presentations designed to educate, excite, and inspire youth of all ages to take direct ownership of mosquito control – both at school and in their own backyards.
Equip your classroom with our age-appropriate lesson plans, activity sheets, and educational guides, or schedule a visit from a BugOut representative to bring hands-on vector science to your students.
Click here for our on our teacher resources. If you want our team to visit, contact us and we’ll send a BugOut representative to your school.
PROGRESS
Click on the tiles below to find out more:
The Wolbachia Tool: A Proven Success
Partnering with Debug, we have implemented a non-toxic, non-GMO method to suppress disease-carrying mosquito populations on Virgin Gorda. By utilizing Wolbachia – a naturally occurring bacterium – we target the invasive Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes without harmful chemicals or genetic modification.
Unmatched Impact on Virgin Gorda
- 98% Reduction: Achieved in biting female mosquitoes in specific managed areas.
- 81% Reduction: Recorded in the Handsome Bay area.
- 75% Average Reduction: Realized across the entire Valley.
- 1.5+ Million Mosquitoes: Collected, identified, and sexed to ensure data-driven success.
- 1,168 Acres Protected: Covering 1,237 households across the territory.
Fast Facts
- Safety First: Wolbachia is found in 60% of insects and is not found in humans; it cannot be transmitted to people or pets.
- No New Bites: We release only male mosquitoes, which do not bite.
- Eco-Friendly: This method targets only the invasive Aedes aegypti, protecting local biodiversity and the food chain.
- Globally Recognized: Partnered with Verily (Debug), using technology proven in Singapore, Australia, and Puerto Rico.
Project Status
The release phase of this Ministry of Health-approved project successfully concluded on September 14, 2024 with releases continuing at Oil Nut Bay until December 2026. To maintain these historic gains, traditional breeding site treatment and intensive surveillance continue across the island.
Outreach: Inspiring Community Action
Every resident and business on Virgin Gorda plays a vital role in protecting our island’s health and comfort. We empower the community at large to join the mission by following BugOut’s Three C’s:
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Clean-up: Form a dedicated team of family or employees to identify and eliminate breeding sites on your property weekly.
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Communicate: Post information posters around your property that highlight breeding sites and bite prevention.
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Cover-up: Talk to your neighbors, employees, and customers—ensure everyone knows where mosquitoes lay eggs and how to prevent bites.
We believe education is the primary tool for long-term change. The BugOut team is dedicated to empowering the Virgin Gorda community through active engagement.
- School Visits: Delivering interactive, age-appropriate presentations to inspire the next generation of “mosquito warriors”.
- Community Leadership: Establishing a Community Steering Committee and hosting regular public meetings to ensure local voices guide our progress.
- Teacher Resources: Providing free lesson plans and materials to integrate environmental health into the classroom.
Source Reduction
Our “Green, Clean, Healthy” mission prioritizes human and environmental safety by eliminating mosquitoes at the source without toxic chemicals.
- Physical Removal: We work to identify and permanently remove breeding sites, such as stagnant water in ghuts and gutters.
- Safe Treatments: For sites that cannot be removed, we utilize non-toxic, ecologically safe larvicides or mosquito-eating fish.
- Infrastructure Management: We provide advice on sealing septic tanks and managing AC or pump room drainage to prevent standing water. We hope to facilitate rain water gardens to mitigate problem breeding sites.
Infrastructure Management: We offer guidance on preventing standing water by advising on sealing septic tanks and managing drainage from AC or pump rooms. Our goal is to promote the use of rain water gardens as a way to mitigate problematic mosquito breeding sites.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Every decision we make is backed by rigorous scientific monitoring to ensure our community sees real results.
- Scientific Rigor: To date, the programme has collected and identified millions of mosquitoes and assessed the viability of tens of thousands of eggs.
- Surveillance Network: We utilize a network of surveillance traps, serviced twice weekly, to provide precise estimates of mosquito density.
- Proven Impact: This data-driven approach allows us to measure success accurately, such as the sustained suppression 98% reduction in biting Aedes and Culex females achieved in managed areas.
Partnering for a Resilient BVI
BugOut thrives through a “Whole of Community” approach, bridging the gap between global technology, government, and local action.
- Technical Innovation: Green VI collaborates with technical partner Debug to implement advanced Wolbachia tools proven in precision health projects across Singapore, Australia, and Puerto Rico.
- Government Approved: Our projects are approved by the BVI Ministry of Health and align with national health priorities.
- Business Leaders: We partner with world-class resorts, including Oil Nut Bay, and Guavaberry Spring Bay, to set new standards for sustainable, mosquito-free luxury.
- Community Reach: Our large-scale initiatives have worked directly with residents to protect 1,237 households over 1,168 acres.
International Recognition: A Global Leader
The BugOut Programme has positioned the BVI as a global leader in innovative, sustainable vector control.
- As Seen In: Our pioneering work has been featured in Forbes, Newsweek, Rolling Stones, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure for setting a new standard in eco-friendly mosquito management.
- Independent Validation: Our methods are undergoing an independent review by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to verify our scientific rigor.
- Global Exchange: We are proud to host visitors from Barbados and other regions looking to study our successful model for their own communities.
- Scientific Leadership: We actively contribute to global science, presenting findings at the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) conference and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals such as the American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene.
- Proven Methods: We utilize world-class strategies used in places like Singapore, Maui, and Puerto Rico.
We Recycle
A National Partnership for Sustainable Materials Management: The WE RECYCLE programme is a collaboration between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Green VI, established to identify and optimise the most effective recycling frameworks for the territory. Our shared mission is to safeguard public health, foster local job creation, reduce waste and provide raw materials to fuel sustainable BVI enterprise. By demonstrating operational best practices in island-scale materials management, the programme provides a living blueprint for the future.