Dear Sir:
Thank you for printing the letter last week concerning the dire consequences for Anguilla if the Zika virus were to come and settle in Anguilla, and exhorting the Environmental Health workers to get out there fogging as often as necessary – while also going to look for and deal with possible mozzie breeding places.
Since that short time ago, it is heartening to read in the media that much work has been done. Credit and kudos to where they are due. Specifically … “There have been routine inspections and treatment of swamps, drains and cemeteries. Fifty percent of the schools have been inspected and no mosquito breeding was detected. The remaining schools are programmed for inspection completion during the [current] week. The hospital was inspected and one breeding site that was identified has been treated. The three clinics were inspected and two were clear of breeding sites. One had a defective pipe, and repairs have been made to avoid any breeding of mosquitoes there. All ports have been inspected and are satisfactory with no breeding sites. Inspection of hotels is carried out by the landscaping teams of the hotel…The fogging machine has been repaired and is functioning and the chemicals have been procured and are ready. A schedule for fogging is expected soon from the Department of Health Protection. An island-wide clean-up has been set for February 20 and 21 where the Environmental Health Unit and individuals will be tackling litter and derelict vehicles.”
Please then can the Environmental Health Unit and Department of Health Protection do the following:
1. Keep up the inspection schedule which will be ongoing and make sure that the fogging machine is maintained with sufficient spare parts, and that there are chemicals for it at all times. It is possibly the most important piece of equipment on the island.
2. Get the fogging machine out there and working as often as necessary.
3. Get the word out, not just to the local media but also – via the ATB and its promotional agencies around the world – to the mainstream media in our traditional and target tourism markets that Anguilla is taking massive steps to prevent the Zika virus. Issue press releases like: “While other countries in the Caribbean region are seeing hotel bookings cancelled, because of concerns over the Zika virus, plucky little Anguilla has taken the right steps ….”
Sincerely
Letuspray
