EDITORIAL
With the increasing rainfall we have seen recently in this country, including the flooding caused by the passage of Tropical Storm Harvey, there is definitely a greater need for persons to be vigilant with respect to the mosquito population, seeking to ensure that these pesky and oftentimes disease carrying insects, do not claim anymore victims.
As small as they are, through their nuisance bites, mosquitoes can transmit some of the deadliest diseases known to man and right here in Barbados we are at risk of contracting them. In the past when we thought of mosquitoes what automatically came to mind was dengue, today we have to think broader than that, as chikungunya, malaria and now zika are very real possibilities as well and the fact is those are not the only diseases they can transmit.
Now, over the last few years the zika virus has popped up on the Caribbean’s radar and while we have not heard much of the disease in the last few months; do not think for a moment that we are out of the danger zone. Gladly, we have seen a 95 per cent reduction in the cases which were reported in Brazil last year, where the disease was most prevalent, and across the region, outbreaks appear to have subsided. However, we must not forget the threat this virus poses, especially to pregnant women, as the virus could quite likely still be circulating, but, because only 20 per cent of those who get the virus exhibit symptoms, many could have contracted it and not even know. That is the sobering reality we can ill afford to ignore.
The other sad reality is that little is still known of the zika virus, and while it appears that like chikungunya it is not a disease that is usually life threatening, dengue can be, as is malaria, and so one still has to take the necessary precautions to avoid being bitten by the pesky insects. The fact is it really takes only one bite from a virus carrying mosquito for a person to have to seek medical assistance, so prevention is key.
The best way to prevent these viruses is to control the mosquito population. That reduces the possibility of being bitten and by extension being infected. But, we cannot be successful at mosquito control if everyone is not willing and ready to play their part. It must be all hands on deck if we are to eradicate mosquito breeding sites and ultimately prevent the spread of diseases they may carry.
Therefore, the onus is on all of us to inspect our surroundings on a weekly basis, getting rid of any stagnant water and spraying with insecticide regularly. We must also open our homes when the Ministry of Health sends out the fogging machines, so that the fog can permeate the nooks and crannies and attack the mosquitoes. If everyone does this, then our efforts will not be in vain.
Given however that few of us have been vigilant around our homes and places of business, we wonder if perhaps the health authorities may not have to use the long arm of the law to ensure that persons are doing what they should to keep their properties clean and to safeguard the health of us all. We speak of putting strong penalties in place, be they fines or possibly even imprisonment if convicted, for those who fail to do their due diligence.