Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health Dr. Glen Beneby said yesterday environmental experts believe Hurricane Matthew's 145-mile-per-hour winds pushed away adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from The Bahamas.

"Since the hurricane, it would appear as though the number of persons reporting mosquito bites are less," Beneby said.

"So what we believe is the high winds during the hurricane would have caused the adult mosquitoes to take flight or be blown out of the area.

"But at the same time, if we don't take care and clean up and get rid of the water, we are likely to have a rebound of the larva."

To date, there are 17 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in The Bahamas.

Beneby said there has not been any recent reports of Zika in spite of the hurricane.

As Matthew caused many low-lying areas in New Providence to flood, concerns have risen about possible breeding camps for mosquitoes.

But Beneby said that should be the least of anyone's worries.

"What we would like to say is that you know and expect that as a part of a hurricane you will have considerable amounts of water and collection of water," he said.

"What we have observed is that communities have continued to work together and clean up after the hurricane.

"... Because of the response of the community to clean up containers and move these things away, we are benefitting from that.

"... We would like to say to the community and public thank you for listening to us.

"We are hoping that the number of cases of Zika will decrease and in order for that to be true, we have to be proactive and preventative in keeping the island clean."

The first confirmed case of the virus was announced on August 9, 2016.

Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Other modes of transmission have been identified including passing the Zika infection from mother to baby and sexual transmission.

Zika during pregnancy has also been linked to microcephaly in newborns.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for Zika virus infection.

Beneby encouraged residents to continue to take preventative measures including avoiding mosquito bites, eliminating mosquito breeding sites and to prevent sexual transmission, the correct use of condoms.doms.

Jayme C. Pinder, Guardian Staff Reporter

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