Fight the bite

I wish to use this forum to once again reiterate the importance of mosquito control, as we fight against any possible outbreak of the Zika virus here in St Vincent and the Grenadines. As I have always said, the fight against the aedes aegypti mosquito is not a fight against a single disease, but is a fight against Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever and now the Zika virus.{{more}}

Last week, the Minister of Health declared war on the aedes aegypti mosquito. In his address he outlined a number of measures that the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders will put in place in order to prevent any possible outbreak of the Zika virus here. He also explained that in the event of an outbreak, the ministry would try to detect and contain the spread of this virus in order to prevent it from reaching epidemic proportions.

What was also very evident in the minister’s speech was the call for everyone to join in this fight. He outlined that the Ministry of Health cannot win the fight alone and that an “All of Society” approach is needed, where each and every Vincentian is called upon to join in this battle.

It must be noted that diseases do not discriminate. These diseases can affect anyone. Also, mosquitoes do not select persons whom they bite. The rich, the poor; white, black, yellow, red; the young, the old; male, female etc, are all susceptible to mosquito bites. Therefore, it is incumbent on all of us to do our part in preventing mosquitoes from breeding.

Mosquitoes are very small creatures and so most times they are taken for granted. However, statistics have shown that the mortality from these small creatures surpasses that of larger animals that are often feared. For example, sharks kill on average 10 persons a year; lions kill approximately 100 persons; crocodiles about 1,000; snakes about 50,000; and mosquitoes about 725,000.

It is said that the most deadly animal in the world is the mosquito. It might seem impossible that something so miniscule can kill so many people. According to the World Health Organization, mosquito bites result in the deaths of close to one million people every year. The majority of these deaths are due to malaria. The World Health Organization estimates that between 300 and 500 million cases of malaria occur each year and a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds.

It is, therefore, important for us to do our part in this fight against mosquitoes. The fight does not entail complex or sophisticated tools, but very simple things that we can do. Remember to cover and completely seal septic tanks, rainwater tanks or other large water storage containers. Dispose of rubbish around the yard that may collect water e.g. plastic sheets or old tarpaulins, pot plant holders, old wheelbarrows, old tyres, and plastic and or styrofoam containers of any type. Ensure roof gutters drain freely so that pools of water are not left at any low points.

On a personal level, you should wear loose, light-coloured protective clothing in outdoor situations, covering feet, legs and arms. The use of personal repellents containing DEET or picaridin on areas of exposed skin, in combination with protective clothing, is also effective. Avoid being outdoors between dusk and dawn to avoid mosquito bites, particularly in poorly lit areas. If your accommodation is not well screened, sleep inside mosquito netting. Remember that these measures are not only for the Zika virus, but also for any diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes, such as Dengue and Chikunguna. Fight the bite today!

Dr Rosmond Adams is a medical doctor and a public health specialist.