The Vector Control Unit (VCU) of the Ministry of Public Health is working towards the establishment of an Entomology Unit as a means of enhancing its monitoring and management of mosquito borne-diseases.
This disclosure was made by Head of the Vector Control Unit Dr Horace Cox during a recent interview with Stabroek News.
According to Dr Cox, the VCU, with technical support from its international partners, is working to implement different strategies that would boost its management and monitoring of mosquito-borne illnesses.
One such strategy is the establishment of an entomological unit to study the changes in the behavioral pattern of mosquitoes and how they would have adapted over a period of time.
“As we know, most of these illnesses Dengue, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya and Zika are all Aedesborne. While it is known that these mosquitoes are day biters and breed in clean water, research would have shown that their behavioral pattern would have changed overtime. Now, they are biting in the night and breeding in septic tanks etc, so it has become difficult to manage them,” Cox said.
He went on to say that over the past year, not only has there been the threat of Chikungunya and Zika, but also the reemergence of viruses like Yellow Fever. Cox believes there is need for constant surveillance to prevent the reintroduction of these infections.
“These are the things we are brainstorming at our level and this is why we have placed emphasis on entomology,” he said.
Funding for the Entomology Unit comes from the Inter-American Development Bank, through a collaboration with Guyana Water Incorporated.
Cox said a University of Guyana trained biologist has been recruited to head the unit and that person is expected to travel to the Cayman Islands soon to gain some further exposure in the field.
Additionally, with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), six entomology technicians are expected to complete training this month.
“Our idea is that at the end of it, we have a unit which is led by an entomologist who is supported by technicians with the necessary equipment so they can begin work in this field of study,” he added.
Meanwhile, construction for the proposed lab is set to commence in the near future at space behind the Materials and Management Unit at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
But apart from enhancing its entomological capabilities, the VCU is working on being able to do other forms of research including insecticide resistance testing.
“It is very important to test for insecticide resistance; when you look at malathion in Guyana and the Caribbean, it has been used for years and everyone knows this and you need to be checking to see if it’s effective or not; we need to keep checking these things and entomology will help us with this,” Cox added.
Also of great importance is the VCU’s capability in monitoring the distribution of vectors across the country, he noted.
“When you look at the Anopheles vector that spreads malaria, you’d expect to see them in the hinterland area as opposed to the coastal area; when the Aedes came with Yellow Fever, Chikungunya and Zika, you expected to find them more on the coastal area than in the hinterland… These are things we want to be able to map… and… monitor mosquito index, which would help us in being able to identify areas at risk of having outbreaks,” Cox said.
In the meantime, the VCU is working towards the procurement of the necessary equipment to be used by the Entomology Unit.
