Sean Douglas
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said some people were “politicising” dengue and that it could cause harm to people and the environment.
He said eliminating mosquito breeding sites within the home was the most effective way to curb the spread of the disease.
The Prime Minister met with top health officials, including Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasuram, at the ministry’s Queen’s Park East, Port of Spain, on July 12.
Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hines said TT had 229 confirmed cases and two deaths this year and “these cases are on the rise”.
Also present were Dr Osafo Fraser, Specialist Medical Officer at the Insect Vector Control Division (IVCD) and Dr Janine St. Bernard, Caroni County Medical Officer.
In his summary, Parasuram noted that so far this year there have been 7.6 million dengue cases and 3,000 deaths, compared with 6.5 million cases and 7,300 deaths respectively last year.
Pay attention to the transmission
Aedes aegypti Dengue, which is transmitted after an incubation period of three to 14 days following a mosquito bite, is endemic in TT, the CMO said.
He urged prevention by reducing sources of infection, recognizing symptoms, seeking medical care early, using personal protective equipment (repellents, long-sleeved clothing, window and door screens), and public education.
Deyalsingh said Parasuram had said mosquitoes breed in “clean, clear and stagnant water” but there was a “misconception in the public mind about the role of water”.
“When the media reports, people talk about ‘dirty drains’ and ‘moss-covered lakes and ponds’ and residents are led to believe that these are polluted places,” the minister said.
Aedes aegypti It’s a place to lay eggs. It’s not a place to lay eggs.
“Let’s be clear about what we’ve been saying for the last nine years.
Aedes aegypti The main breeding ground for mosquitoes is clear, clean, stagnant water, and they mostly live in homes and gardens.”
The breeding sites were not green ponds or dirty drains, although they could be cleaned, he said.
“The people,
Aedes aegypti As for pests that live in dirty and stagnant drains, they are not focused on their real breeding grounds: inside your home, which can be vases and flower pots, clogged drains, water tanks, etc.”
During the question-and-answer session, Deyalsingh showed a video of a man who appeared to be a tire dealer in Santa Margarita, St. Augustine, disposing of old tires and unintentionally creating breeding sites. Deyalsingh warned residents that breeding sites could also include “flower pots lined up on front porches, 20 feet from kitchens or bedrooms.”
“To all in the media, please focus the public’s attention on their responsibility to those around them. I don’t know what else to say.”
Deyalsingh said the department’s regional medical officers have links with the IVCD and the regional corporations in TT.
A reporter asked about reports of people personally spraying the mosquito repellent chemical malathion in their homes without protective clothing, proper equipment or permits.
“It’s dangerous. Unfortunately, I have to say the issue of dengue has now been politicised,” Deyalsingh said.
He claimed that certain individuals and local businesses were misleading the public by using dengue fever as a political opportunity, saying the same thing happened with the new coronavirus, and mocked past comments such as “sunlight will kill the new coronavirus” and “don’t get vaccinated.”
“These irresponsible people and some companies are encouraging citizens to put their lives at risk by buying malathion and withholding protective gear in a cheap political stunt for political gain.”
Deyalsingh said “ultra-low volume spraying” requires chemicals to be precisely calculated and titrated (measured) to ensure human health is not compromised.
But he argued that businesses in southern Trinidad were using the issue as a political opportunity and, worse, putting residents in the area at risk by overspraying.
“What happens is you kill everything around you. You destroy your own ecosystem.”
“They’re not using gas masks, they’re not using gloves and you can see their exposed skin.”
“Why are these companies being so irresponsible? I call on these irresponsible politicians to stop and focus their efforts on source reduction.”
He called on companies to visit homes to check whether containers had accumulated water.
“Instead of the money we are raising to buy chemicals, we should be buying nets and fish tank nets.”
Deyalsingh warned about two dangers of overspraying.
“If that same family sprays their crops two years later, do you know what will happen?
“Mosquitoes will stand there and laugh at you.
“I’m being serious because they are stepping up their resistance.”
Second, he said, “You’re going to destroy the ecosystem around your home. You’re going to kill dragonflies, you’re going to kill ladybugs, you’re going to kill spiders, you’re going to kill fish, you’re going to kill birds, you’re going to cause an unknown ecological disaster.”
“That’s why I’m calling for an end to cheap and dangerous politics.”
He said a bottle cap could contain 1,000 mosquito eggs and a plant saucer could contain up to a million eggs.
“Throw away the plant saucers,” Deyalsingh urged.
The minister also urged workplaces and places of worship to curb mosquito breeding sites.
Deyalsingh said TT has no intention of importing genetically modified mosquitoes to fight dengue as it has not been scientifically proven and the risk of them mutating in the future is unknown.
Regarding treatment for dengue, he urged people to seek medical advice, consult a pharmacist, drink water and use paracetamol to reduce fever.
St. Bernard warned against using ibuprofen or aspirin.
“If you have severe dengue fever, please go to the hospital.”
She listed the symptoms of dengue fever as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums and nose, fatigue, restlessness, blood in the vomit or stool, extreme thirst, pale and cold skin and weakness.
Newsday complained that mosquito sprays no longer seem to work against mosquitoes and asked about natural repellents such as lemons with cloves and lavender.
Fraser responded: “There is evidence that some plants repel mosquitoes. Some of the ones you mentioned: peppermint, rosemary, lavender. Using natural plants can have some effect.”
“If you have to spend a lot of time outdoors, take simple precautions like wearing long pants, socks, long sleeves and applying insect repellent to your hands and face,” Deyalsingh said.
He said some 31 citations had been issued to property owners for unsanitary premises under the Yellow Fever Regulations (updated in 2016), which provided for owners to be fined up to $3,500 if they did not clean up within a reasonable time.
