Fogging to be expanded as Public Health Ministry steps up fight against Zika

The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Public Health intends to expand its fogging efforts across the country as it steps up the fight against the zika virus and other government Ministries intend to step in and offer assitance.

During an interview on the JumpStart radio morning show, Dr. Horace Cox of the Vector Control Unit said while there is no cause for concern or alarm, the Ministry will be stepping up its fogging exercise.

He said communities outside of Georgetown are now being targeted and residents are being encouraged to support the efforts by ensuring that their windows are open during the fogging exercise to allow the mist into their homes to kill the mosquitoes.

According to Dr. Cox, communities along the East Coast, West Coast, East Bank and West Bank of Demerara will begin to see an increase presence of officers carrying out the fogging exercise. Additionally, the Public Health Ministry will also begin a house to house verification and information exercise that will also seek to offer information to persons about the mosquito carrying virus.

But even with the efforts of the Public Health Ministry, citizens are being encouraged to do their part by ensuring there are no breathing grounds for mosquitoes. Dr. Cox said citizens across the country should play their part by ensuring the cleanliness of their communities. He said empty plots of land should be weeded to ensure mosquitoes do not breathe in the areas and containers of water in yards should be disposed of.

Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman has indicated that his Ministry intends to assist the Ministry of Public Health in ensuring the mining communities are made aware of the zika threat. Additionally he said, the Natural Resources Ministry will lend assistance with the fogging exercise in those interior communities.

Guyana has recorded just one confirmed case of the zika virus. The World Health Organisation has declared an International Emergency as more cases of the virus continue to pop up across the world. There have been several cases in Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela as well as in some Caribbean nations.