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Anti-midges rapid response plan starts today with fogging
by Tghe Daily Herald
Posted: Jan 18, 2006 18:47 UTC
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PHILIPSBURG - Fogging, increasing the saline level of Great Salt Pond and treating the banks of the pond are among the measures being implemented from today, Wednesday, to eliminate the midges that have infested Philipsburg and other areas in recent weeks.
The fogging exercise will start today, Wednesday, and run until Friday, January 20, from 5:00am to 7:00am in the vicinity of the roundabout on A.Th. Illidge Road, Zagersgut Road, Bush Road, Prins Bernhard Bridge, Longwall Road and Cannegieter Street up to the office of utilities company GEBE, Government Information Service (GIS) said in a press release Tuesday.
The exercise will be repeated every other week for four weeks. Residents are being advised to remain indoors as much as possible and to keep their windows closed during the fogging.
Residual pesticides will also be applied to the banks of the pond from today. “The grounds surrounding the pond will be treated at five-day intervals for four to six weeks, depending on the assessment from the monitoring campaign,” GIS said.
The saline level of the pond will also be increased and where possible “dry salt” will be used in the pond. “The water levels in the pond will be controlled with reference to salinity by pumping in fresh seawater periodically. When pumping in fresh seawater is not feasible, dry salt will be introduced,” GIS said. The entire campaign will be done under the supervision of the Hygiene Department.
These measures are part of a rapid response plan to get rid of the midges, which have been a nuisance to residents and businesses in the vicinity of the pond for some two months, based on an assessment carried out by Curaçao-based entomologist Gisette Seferina and the Hygiene and Veterinary Department late last week.
“According to the report of the entomologist, the insect is a non-biting chironomid midge. The midge, even though it does not represent a public health hazard, is a nuisance to the people living and working in the surrounding areas. These midges do not bite.
“The midge goes through four developmental stages: egg, larva, puparia, adult. The eggs are laid on the water and hatch within three days. The larval developmental time varies greatly, depending on the temperature, but in transient tropical habitats, can complete its life cycle in as little as two weeks,” stated GIS.
Health Commissioner Franklin Meyers thanked the business community for its support and said he looked forward to continued support in this matter. GIS said the public would be informed on the progress of the rapid response plan.
No other details about the findings of the entomologist were provided in the GIS press release
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