CARPHA urges the public to protect themselves against mosquito borne diseases

As the region observes Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2020, CARPHA Executive Director, Dr Joy St. John, is urging countries in the region to do their utmost to protect their populations from mosquito-borne diseases, even as the fight continues against COVID-19.

As the region observes Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2020, CARPHA Executive Director, Dr Joy St. John, is urging countries in the region to do their utmost to protect their populations from mosquito-borne diseases, even as the fight continues against COVID-19.

The CARPHA executive director says both individuals and communities have a role to play in preventing an upsurge of mosquito borne diseases.

“Countries around the world have battled the spread of COVID-19 by closing borders, placing national restrictions on population movement and integrating further social distancing measures into everyday life,” Dr St John observes. “This was done to ensure that our health care systems are not overwhelmed in the identification and management of COVID-19 cases.”

She adds: “In the midst of this pandemic, we must be mindful that other public health threats still exist. Mosquito borne diseases, such as, Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, have placed an additional burden on our region’s health care systems, and negatively impact social and economic development.”

Head of Vector Borne Diseases at CARPHA, Dr. Laura-Lee Boodram, warns that countries must remain vigilant, given the cyclical nature of many of these diseases.

“During 2019, the Caribbean Region experienced another outbreak of Dengue, with many CARPHA Member States reporting an increase in the number of severe and hospitalised cases. Dengue outbreaks tend to occur in cycles every few years due to a complex interplay between population, ecological and climatic factors,” she explained.

“While we haven’t seen a resurgence of Chikungunya or Zika within Member States in the last few years, countries in South and Central America did report outbreaks of Chikungunya in 2019 and early 2020, therefore, the Caribbean must remain vigilant,” Dr Boodram added.

Caribbean Mosquito Awareness week (CMAW) was declared in November 2014 at the 17th Special Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government on Public Health Threats. It is an important reminder to the general public to take action to reduce their risk of diseases spread by mosquitoes.

For CMAW 2020, CARPHA’s slogan states, “In times of COVID—Let’s Unite to Fight the Bite!”, placing emphasis on taking preventative measures and remaining healthy during this time.

As the rainy season starts, it is expected that greater rainfall will lead to a proliferation of mosquito breeding sites, build vector populations and increase the risk of transmission of diseases, such as Dengue. To counter this increase in mosquitoes and potential disease transmission, CARPHA urges that greater effort be placed on mosquito awareness in communities, and that vector control activities are intensified.

Mr Rajesh Ragoo, Senior Technical Officer, Vector Borne Diseases at CARPHA has recommendations for the best way to “fight the bite”.

“The best way to “fight the bite” around homes and communities, is to ensure our surroundings are clean and free of materials or containers that can accumulate water,” Rajesh Ragoo explains. “The base of plants pots, vases, buckets and used vehicles tires are typical breeding sites. Water storage drums and tanks must be properly covered and inspected periodically to ensure that there is no breeding. It is also important to minimize individual exposure to mosquito bites.”

CARPHA advises that vulnerable groups such as infants, young children, older adults and women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant must exercise extra caution. It also strongly recommends personal protective measures, including the wearing of long-sleeved clothing and the use of insect repellents.

In late 2019, CARPHA entered into a grant agreement with the European Union, which supports regional prevention and control efforts against mosquito borne diseases. Focus will be placed on strengthening Member States disease surveillance systems and vector control operations, expanding community engagement, public health education and increasing partnerships and collaborations to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with mosquito borne diseases.

CARPHA has developed Mission Mosquito, an innovative information toolkit, which includes animated videos, posters and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

The toolkit is specially packaged to meet the needs of a diverse audience, which include public health professionals and clinicians, pregnant women, and children.

The toolkit is available online, at http://missionmosquito.carpha.org/

CNC3 Editor
WRITTEN BY

CNC3 Editor

Television station in Trinidad and Tobago. Free to Air everywhere... Trinidad: Channels 12 VHF &14 Cable Viewers can continue to view us on Channel 3 Tobago: TRICO Cable Channel 3 and Free to Air on Channel 22 LIVE STREAM: https://www.cnc3.co.tt/livestream