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Rain-inspired mosquito increase triggers fogging exercises – Ministry official
With incessant rainfalls over the past few months, the Ministry of Public Health is reportedly on high alert for a possible upsurge in mosquito borne viruses. This is in light of the fact that some mosquito vectors are known to especially thrive during the rainy season.
Fogging exercises are ongoing in sections of Regions Three and Four
While the Ministry has not yet released any information regarding an increase of mosquito borne illnesses such as Zika, Chikungunya, malaria or even dengue, several reports have reached this publication of increased fogging exercises being conducted.
Fogging activities are usually ramped up when there is an increase in mosquito borne diseases. This publication was able to ascertain that there has indeed been an increase in fogging in Region Three. But the fogging activities have not been limited to Region Three. This was confirmed by Head of Public Relations and Health Promotion at the Public Health Ministry, Mr. Terrence Esseboom.
Esseboom said that based on the reports out of Region Three, the fogging activities are a deliberate but proactive attempt to ward off an increase in the mosquito infestation which could contribute to an outbreak.
“The Regional Health Officer doesn’t know of any outbreak in that Region at the moment but once it rains mosquitoes get a chance to multiply,” said the Ministry official as he spoke of the innate need for fogging.
Residents in sections of West Demerara, by way of a loud hailer, were on Monday made aware of the plans for fogging activities and the activity followed that very evening.
But according to Esseboom, fogging has also been ongoing in Region Four. In fact, he disclosed that activities in this regard started more than a month ago.
“We had started fogging more than a month and half ago from Mahaica coming down [to Georgetown]; I don’t know how far they have reached…but this fogging exercise was started because there have been complaints by residents about an increase in mosquitoes,” Esseboom shared.
Fogging activities approved by the Ministry of Public Health’s Vector Control Services Unit employs the use of malathion, which is a World Health Organisation-approved chemical [insecticide].
Once properly prepared, the chemical is released, via a fogging machine, into the air as a mist which is usually enough to kill adult mosquitoes with which it comes into contact.
In order to reduce the mosquito population at the larvae stage, abate [a larvicide] is used in the canals. But this too is done with precaution, a vector control officer told this publication.
“If we go and see fishes in the water we don’t throw abate. We have something named ‘Acquative’ and it stays on top of the water. It is oil based, so when the larvae come up they come into contact and die.”
The Vector Control Services Unit also has the capacity to conduct indoor residual spraying services which can be done at homes if a request is made or at other buildings such as schools and other public facilities.
Multiple officials have assured that the chemicals used are not harmful to humans or animals.
Home owners are encouraged to open their windows in order to allow the chemical to pass through in order to reach the target vectors.
Also persons are usually reminded, during fogging exercises, to keep their potable water sources and food covered to prevent possible contamination, secure all domestic animals and poultry and to keep persons who suffer from asthmatic conditions, young children and the elderly away from the direct flow of fog.
As part of the efforts to combat vector borne disease, persons are also encouraged to keep their environment free of breeding sites. By simply discarding containers in which water can settle for days or clearing a clogged drain, persons can help get rid of a great deal of mosquito troubles.
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