BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH St. Kitts and Nevis and neighbouring islands continuing to pick up the pieces following the passage of Hurricane Irma, it is believed by a world renowned organisation that the possibility exists for the presence of vector and waterborne diseases.
Irma had pounded the Federation with heavy winds and rain, leaving in its wake a number of fallen trees and damage to homes, which prompted the International Red Cross to issue a warning over the possible outbreak of diseases such as Dengue, Chickugunya and Zika.
“Although St. Kitts and Nevis suffered relatively minor damages, in comparison to other Caribbean islands, concerns have been raised about the risk of vector and waterborne diseases. In the weeks following the hurricane, the threat of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika outbreaks could increase as the floodwaters subside and debris filled with stagnant water become ideal breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito – the main vector for these diseases. Red Cross volunteers will work alongside the community to reduce the risk of outbreak.”
In an invited comment, Dr. Terrance Drew echoed similar sentiments following the passage of the hurricane.
He explained that the Federation has had its fair share of Chickungunya and the Zika virus and would not want a repetition.
To this end, he is calling on the government to begin the fogging process in order to guard against the development of those mosquitoes.
“If the government can engage in fogging, that would be good,” Drew said. “It should be done now, especially in areas on the eastern corridor which was hard hit and had more rainfall. If we don’t take care of it now, in the next few weeks it can develop into a much bigger problem.”
The medical practitioner is urging citizens and residents to take the necessary precautions to protect against the spread of those diseases.
“What I think can be done is to have water catchments. Containers that have water in them, they should be covered up or get rid of the water. People should also get mosquito nets for children because they can be at serious risk of borne diseases such as Dengue, Chickungunya and Zika.”
He reminded to “get rid of stagnant water which would breed mosquitoes and clean up the surroundings from debris”.
