By Kisean Joseph
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has enhanced regional vector control capabilities by recently donating fogging machines and chemicals to its member states. Among the recipients, Antigua and Barbuda received three fogging machines for use across the island.
The initiative primarily targets the Aedes aegypti mosquito population, which is known to carry dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.
Principal Public Health Inspector within the Central Board of Health (CBH) Julienne Mannix “CARPHA would have spread out their donation to all the countries in the member states. Each country would have received their fogging machines and chemicals that go along with the fogging machines,” she said.
The equipment is specifically designed for adult mosquito control, with Mannix noting its strategic importance. “These machines are in aid of adult controls, the adult mosquito control to knock down if we have any situations like an epidemic or high indices of other mosquitoes in the community.”
To guarantee successful implementation, CARPHA has committed resources to training initiatives. CARPHA recently provided training for individuals from Antigua and Barbuda focusing on machine calibration, maintenance, and the correct application of chemicals. The training, which took place in the Cayman Islands, was attended by two members of the CBH staff.
More recently, from November 4-8, additional training was conducted locally. “We had two facilitators from CARPHA that conducted training with staff from the Central Board of Health. We had staff from Dunbars Analytical Services and epidemiologists from the Ministry of Health,” Mannix said. The sessions covered integrated vector control management, entomological surveillance, and lab surveillance.
To ensure effectiveness, robust monitoring systems are in place. “We have a robust surveillance system that happens where we do our entomology surveillance in the different communities to determine if what we’re doing is effective,” Mannix stated. She added that recent insecticide resistance testing confirmed the continued effectiveness of their chemical treatments.
Despite the enhanced capabilities provided by the new equipment, Mannix emphasized that community participation remains crucial. “Although they would have implemented fogging machines, we still want the public, the general public to continue to do their regular checks, checking the premises for mosquito breeding sites,” she urged.
She stressed the importance of source reduction, “Source reduction is the best method, most effective method, trying to deal with the mosquito in its aquatic state. You remove these breeding sites; you would not have an abundance of mosquitoes there in different communities.”
The timeframe for mosquito development makes regular monitoring essential. “In one week, you can have mosquitoes moving from eggs to adults,” Mannix warned, adding that vector control requires a collaborative approach. “It is an effort by everybody, staff at CBH, the general public, it is for everybody.”
