Mayor Hamilton Green and the Environ-mental Community Health Organization (ECHO) have expressed health concerns about the recent fogging exercises aimed at reducing the risk of Chikungunya in the city and on the coastlands.
ECHO in a statement charged that residents in some areas were not notified of the fogging exercises and the reasons behind it.
The statement read that some residents received no information about the chemicals used to fog and what were the likely side effects. It stated that some residents could be living with respiratory complications and would need to know the appropriate measure to protect themselves.
“…ECHO is calling on the competent authorities to provide citizens with all the necessary information about the exercise,” the release said.
Meanwhile, Green, in a letter to the Stabroek News last week, said people were unaware if the chemicals used in the fogging exercise would be effective. “We have not been told what chemical (or chemicals) is being used and whether it is being imported from a credible source by a credible importer,” he said.
He also probed whether the chemicals would be harmful to babies and small children.
Chikungunya was first spotted in the Region five three weeks ago. Since then there has been a spike in its detection; so far 19 cases have been detected.
Chikungunya is a mosquito borne virus that is spread by the aedes aegypti mosquito and causes severe joint pains, headaches, spiking fevers, muscle pains and vomiting. It mimics dengue fever.
