Mosquito eradication drive in full gear

- File

Stagnant water caused by the recent floods could provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) has had to hire additional health personnel and purchase extra equipment to facilitate the islandwide mosquito control and eradication programme it has started.

The campaign comes in the wake of torrential rains and flooding in several parishes, and concerns that an increase in the mosquito population could bring outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever.

The Sunday Gleaner was unable to ascertain the number of new persons employed and money being spent on the exercise. However, approximately $34 million was allocated to the Ministry to deal with issues associated with flood damage, including latrine replacement, vector control, and other emergency repairs.

Confirming the increase in the mosquito population, Ministry personnel state that vector control activities have been heightened within all parishes.

"There has been an increase of mosquitoes in communities due to the significant rainfall the island has experienced," Shernette Huntley, medical entomologist at the Ministry, told The Sunday Gleaner. "But all forces have been mobilised for an increased vector control programme in all communities."

This also includes the purchasing of extra supplies of insecticide to facilitate treatment.

While the campaign will be conducted in all parishes, Ms. Huntley told The Sunday Gleaner that priority is being given to those communities hard hit by flood rains.

"A survey was done which revealed that there are some areas requiring urgent attention," Ms. Huntley disclosed. "This includes communities in Clarendon, Trelawny, St. Eliza-beth and St. Thomas, as a matter of priority."

But the health executive is urging residents to "exercise patience, as it might take some time for the entire island to be covered."

She revealed that the islandwide programme is scheduled to end in August, with the bulk of the activities concentrated in June and July.

Treatment will take the form of "fogging" (spraying), targeted at adult mosquitoes and larvicidal activities against mosquito larvae.

Fogging ­ usually conducted at nights ­ involves the delivery of insecticides via a hand-operated spraying machine. An oil-based insecticide is applied over the surface of water to induce suffocation of larvae, thereby killing them. Oil is sprayed in ponds, swamps, drains, gullies, and other large bodies of stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding.

However, The Sunday Gleaner has learnt that continuing rainfall has disrupted larvicidal work in some parishes, washing away the oil from the surface of water.

Vernal Webster, chief public health inspector in the Claren-don Parish Council, told The Sunday Gleaner that "our oiling programme has not been as effective as we hoped because of the rains... We've had to be re-oiling areas when we would have moved on."

However, the oiling continues, he said, as well as fogging and other preventative measures.

Work was effected in Mitchell Town, Portland Cottage, Rocky Point Port (near to Jamalco), Rocky Settlement, Lionel Town and Lionel Town Settlement, Mineral Heights and Hunts Pen, while May Pen, Bushy Park, and other communities are targeted for spraying.

"We've completed work in Vere and have a health team in place to move on to Toll Gate over the weekend, where heavy infestation has been reported," Mr. Webster said.

In the meantime, the Ministry is calling on residents to play their part in the eradication effort by ridding their surroundings of potential breeding grounds.

"We are also asking residents to lodge their complaints about infestation with local health departments, so that we can be aware of the areas of need," Ms. Huntley said. "We cannot have a successful programme without the help of the community."