Mosquito chaos

The increase in the mosquito population has heightened concerns about dengue fever and other mosquito-related diseases across the country, with residents of southern communities saying they are being overwhelmed by swarms of the insects.

As climate change and a number of factors have led to a 200-fold increase in the number of dengue cases in the Americas, according to the director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)Dr Lisa Indar, citizens and homeowners in Trinidad and Tobago are now being urged to be vigilant in the fight against this insect.

Trinidad and Tobago has also recorded a second death from dengue fever since the start of the year.

In the Woodland area, mosquitoes have begun to spread by the millions in swampy areas and are becoming a scourge for those who live nearby, residents say.

“It’s bad, you can’t stay outside, no exaggeration, your feet would be full of mosquitoes,” Devika Singh, a resident, told The Express yesterday.

“It’s really terrible. We bought malathion (an insecticide) and sprayed it. We called the councillors to come and spray it, but when they sprayed it, we didn’t even smell it and it was the same. We spray it around the property, but it doesn’t change anything,” she added.

Activist Edward Moodie of the South Oropouche Riverine Flood Action Group yesterday attributed the sharp increase to a lack of freshwater fish due to saltwater incursion into the wetlands in 2023.

“The whole wetland, which is over 60 hectares, is where there are millions of mosquitoes. If you go down there at night, you will be eaten alive. Normally, we have a mosquito infestation in Woodland every year, but this year the whole lagoon has been flooded with saltwater fish. There are no predators to feed on these mosquitoes and keep the balance. That is what is causing this phenomenal increase in mosquitoes this year. Their numbers are about three to four times higher,” he said in a telephone interview yesterday.

But according to citizens and representatives, the problem is not limited to Woodland, but extends to Penal/Debe, Siparia, Princes Town, Moruga and other areas.

“You can’t get in or out.”

“It’s a problem that lasts all day because when I go out in the morning to pick my flowers, I can’t get up, it’s the worst. There are a lot of mosquitoes,” said a Princes Town resident.

“I don’t know where they come from, but it’s like you can’t go anywhere, inside or outside, without getting bitten. If you look at my hands, I’m bitten all over, they’re swollen. We’ve sprayed, used the spray, tried to get rid of the things that cause mosquitoes, but it hasn’t stopped them,” another added.

Princes Town Regional Corporation chairman Gowrie Roopnarine said at least seven cases of dengue fever had been confirmed in the New Grant area, but this figure could not be independently confirmed by the Express.

He said that during meetings with the ministry’s Insect Vector Control Unit, council members were informed that the Unit was limited by funding and equipment in the large-scale spraying initiatives that had been undertaken previously.

“Previously, the company would help with purchasing insecticides and carrying out spraying, but with limited funds, it cannot do it before the rainy season as it used to do on its own,” he said.

Moruga MP Michelle Benjamin told the Express she had received 20 requests in the past week from frustrated residents asking for spraying.

Moodie: Collaboration needed

Moodie said the Department of Health’s insect vector control unit was tasked with venturing out to properties and spraying as often as possible.

According to him, part of the responsibility also lies with the owners and regional companies.

Spraying, while necessary, is not a permanent solution, he added. Without a long-term collaborative effort, the problem is likely to persist.

“It’s a total failure right now and I don’t know what it’s going to take for us all to work together to solve these problems,” he said.

He said the group hopes to reintroduce at least 10,000 freshwater fish into the wetlands over the next three to six months to reduce the insects’ proliferation.

“We found the reservoirs. It’s all voluntary, we don’t have any money. I’ve identified someone who will hatch the eggs and as soon as the water level rises, the cascaduras will start laying. We’ll take the eggs and hatch them in a controlled environment and then put them back into the marsh when they’re about an inch to two inches long. Now is the time for mosquitoes, but what happened this year in Woodland is crazy. It’s such a huge increase, it’s something else… A collaborative effort is the only way to solve this problem,” he said.

Tobago records first case

Tobago has recorded its first laboratory-confirmed case of dengue fever.

The case was reported by Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) staff, a sample was taken, sent for testing and confirmation received on July 5.

This is according to the Health Division.

Health, Welfare and Social Protection Division Secretary Dr. Faith B. Yisrael encouraged residents to take the situation seriously.

“Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by infected mosquitoes to humans. It is the fastest-spreading mosquito-borne disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked dengue among the top 10 global public health threats, but it is completely preventable. Avoid getting bitten by ensuring there are no mosquito breeding sites in and around your home. We cannot stress this enough to residents,” she said in a press release yesterday.

Ministry of Health tips to prevent dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases

• Stay vigilant. Extra precautions should be taken for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and children to protect them from mosquito-borne diseases.
• Keeping your environment clean protects you and your family from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya and zika.
• Throw away any unwanted containers/objects in your yard and surrounding area that can collect water and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• Cover containers that hold water, such as barrels, drums or buckets, with a mosquito tarp. Clean your drains and gutters to allow water to drain freely. Use mosquito nets and insect repellent.
• If mosquito breeding areas are discovered on your premises, this could result in a fine of $3,500 or a six-month jail term under Regulation 27 of the Yellow Fever Regulations 1979.
• Wear long-sleeved, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing whenever possible.
• Apply a mosquito repellent containing the active ingredient DEET; and
• Use mosquito nets when appropriate. (The Aedes Aegypti mosquito typically bites between dusk and dawn, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.).