By Lara Pickford-Gordon Tuesday, December 23 2008

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The mask: Allister Rawlins wears a new gas mask from Finland which is to be worn by crews from the Insect Vector Control at Queen Street, St Joseph ye...

The Insect Vector Control Division (IVCD) yesterday said that since October spraying and other work were done in Frederick Settlement, Caroni to deal with an infestation of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

“Special works” were also done last Friday when spraying and fogging also took place.

This was disclosed yesterday by Specialist Medical Officer Dr Clive Tilluckdharry at a media briefing at the Insect Vector Control Division, Queen Street, St Joseph to discuss the IVCD’s efforts to control and manage the mosquito problem in Frederick Settlement.

The briefing follows two protests by residents last Wednesday and Saturday. The protest on Saturday was attended by Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner and Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. They had another protest yesterday and one is also planned for this morning.

The protests were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Camille Ramcharan, a resident of the area who had dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Tilluckdharry said the Aedes index for Frederick Settlement had been reduced to 1.1 percent from 7.3 percent in November. “The acceptable level is under five percent which means that currently the area is safe in terms of Aedes infestation.”

He explained the one percent related to the level of mosquito infestation. This figure is determined from the number of positive indicators of Aedes aegypti in homes or receptacles and “not necessarily the incidence of the number of dengue cases.”

Public Health Inspector Gobin Kanatasingh said the Aedes index for the East/West Corridor was more than 12 percent and after the first blitz in October it was reduced to six percent. The results of the second blitz are being analysed.

Tilluckdharry said on October 13 and 14, ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying was done “as part of a blitz programme” in conjunction with an entomologist. On November 27, a “special blitz” programme took place which comprised perifocal inspection and treatment premises, and spraying (ULV, thermal fogging and residual spraying). Tilluckdharry said on December 9 another cycle started, and on December 19 the “entire area was targeted for special works” which included inspections and spraying. The Country Medical Officer of Health for Caroni inspected premises and drains. Health education was to take place on Saturday in which dengue leaflets were to be distributed and lectures given but this was rescheduled due to protests.

Tilluckdharry said 520 houses of the 778 houses in Frederick Settlement were inspected and 23 were found to be positive for Aedes aegypti. “All positive houses were treated.”

Residual spraying with the insecticide propuxor was done at all houses. Fogging took place at 320 houses and the ULV was done on December 19. Another round of ULV will take place today.

Dr Rohit Doon, advisor to the Health Ministry (and former Chief Medical Officer), said the response from the IVCD was “on time, targeted, focussed and very detailed. All the elements that constitute good vector control management are contained in this response.”

Doon advised the public that only through reduction, elimination and control of breeding sites will the risk of dengue disease transmission be reduced.