The Health Ministry of Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed that there are 813 cases which have been reported to the officials as on 14th August. Additionally, an increase of 101 cases has been reported since the last update from the ministry. The last report was released last week.
The Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh, shared that he is not satisfied with the response of the people of the country in combatting Dengue in their homes.
He further said that as of now, the count of deaths that have been reported due to Dengue remains at eight.
Sharing the update on the measures that the administration has been carrying out Minister Deyalsingh noted that to date, 441 notices in total have been issued by the Public Health Inspectors to residents living across the island. The notices said, to clean their properties and get rid of the breeding sites.
Moreover, the Insect Vector Control Division has visited around 160,726 homes to keep a check and detect the breeding sites and aware people about the situation and its effects on their health.
The Health Ministry also shared that the mosquitoes that can spread dengue are usually active during the day time. So, the residents are urged to follow several measures which include covering the body with the clothes so that the mosquito cannot bite.
Further, while sleeping during the day time, everyone must use mosquito nets, and the nets should be sprayed with insect repellent. Additionally, window screens should be installed so that mosquitoes can’t enter the premises, use of mosquito repellents that contain DEET, Picaridin or IR3535. The advisory also stated that coils and vaporizers can also be used.
Significantly, to prevent mosquito breeding, the surroundings must be kept clean so that the mosquitoes do not get the environment where they can lay eggs and it would enhance the problem.
The solid waste must be disposed properly and all the water storage containers or anything that can hold water must be cleaned properly and emptied on regular basis.
Also, Private labs and doctors are cashing in on the current situation by increasing the charges of the test during the times when the people are already in panic.
Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, stated that to break the chain of transmission the authorities are regularly conducting spraying exercises in localities near to the homes of the people who have been confirmed with Dengue.
He also shared that if we overspray, it results in the mosquitoes building resistance to it and in future whenever the spray will be done in future it will not affect the breeding mosquitoes. Further, it is also dangerous for the health of the humans and animals also for the natural habitat.
He further urged the people of the country to clean their gutters, cover the water storage tanks, empty all the containers that have water in them, and cover the holes that can be breeding sites of mosquitoes, as the spray can kill the flying mosquitoes but not the eggs.
