Mosquito unit begins island wide spraying operation
Cayman Islands MRCU aircraft
(CNS): The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) has started aerial operations over mosquito-breeding swamp areas on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The third time the specialist plane has sprayed this year, the operation began in the Sister Islands this week. Involving low-level flights during the mornings and late afternoons, weather permitting, the full application should be complete within 10 days, officials said.
“The distinctive red and white MRCU aircraft will be applying the small pellets specifically designed to target mosquito larvae developing in aquatic habitats; this means preventing the occurrence of biting mosquitoes,” a spokesperson for the MRCU said. “Once the rains begin the pellets are activated and will provide control for up to two months. Low-level flights over specific areas are necessary to ensure that correct application and successful control of mosquitoes is achieved.”
The spray will provide control of the pest through the later part of the wet season. Some 12,000 acres of swamp are targeted in this operation in Grand Cayman, 411 acres in Cayman Brac and 490 acres in Little Cayman.
Residents may have noticed elevated numbers of mosquito biting across the islands because of the recent rainfall and higher tide levels. But officials said the timely treatment of the swamp areas will help to reduce the numbers.
Further information and daily schedules can be found on the Mosquito Research and Control Unit’s Facebook page and the public is invited to call MRCU with any enquiries on 949-2557.
Category: Environmental Health
At :435 may your dear freind R.I.P. Glsd to know that he was given a well deserved farewell.
It has been an ongoing public debate for many years about the effects of the pesticides used for the control of mosquitoes by the MRCU. Is is also public knowledge of our alarmingly high rates of cancer (all types) and other serious health conditions/ disorders. Do we know the exact pesticide(s) that are being used throughout our islands?
What are Pesticides?
Pesticides are chemical or biological substances used to kill or repel targeted organisms. All pesticides are poisons. In many cases they are designed to impact the immune, reproductive, or
nervous system of insects. Concerns exist over the safety of present day pesticides.
I read a very interesting report, The Health Effects of Pesticides Used for Mosquito Control conducted by Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) and Citizens Environmental Research Institute (CERI): http://beyondpesticides.org/mosquito/documents/citizensHealthEffectsMosqP.pdf
Below some astonishing facts mentioned in the report:
Four pesticides are commonly used for mosquito control. The trade names of these pesticides are:
• Scourge: Pyrethroids affect the nervous system. They have been linked with liver and thyroid problems and they can also interfere with the immune and endocrine systems.
• Anvil: (active ingredient: Sumithrin) is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, which may affect the
central nervous system.
• Permethrin:i s a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide and neurotoxin. It is more acutely toxic to children than to adults. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified it as a
human carcinogen and it has been shown to cause immune system damage as well as birth defects, and
• Malathion: is an organophosphate insecticide that can cause acute and long-term neurological health problems. Malathion contains chemical impurities which have been found to weaken immune system function, including a weakening of a type of white blood cell called “cytotoxic lymphocytes” (which attack cancer cells
and virus infected cells).
In conclusion, the report illustrates the potential health effects of pesticides used for mosquito control. Although, the research was carried out in New York, the residents of The Cayman Islands also have a right to be protected from unnecessary environmental health risks. In order for this to be done, we need to move away from the use of pesticides and to find a more effective, non-hazardous way to control mosquitoes.
My friend worked for many years spraying for MRCU I was glad for him when he passed away after years of suffering his mind was gone.
The govt did give him wonderful medical care and took good care of his family
He is a hero and some day I will nominate him for an award
Why not promote the use of natural pesticides like neem oil in residential areas? Leave the aerial spraying for non residential/swamp areas.
Every 2 weeks I spray some neem & dish soap mixed with water in areas that have standing water around my property.
Mosquito numbers have dropped considerably & I can sit out in the evening without getting destroyed by the little buggers.
Trying to kill off all those experimental gay mosquitoes they introduced a while back before they start demanding rights?
I guess more cancer reports in the future? Cause I don’t know what the hell is in that fog! They can’t tell me its healthy. I see kids run down my road in the evenings behind a fogger truck. I have to wonder.
I suppose you would also be whining if you caught any mosquito borne disease. So which would you rather have Treehugger?
Don’t worry, its only kool aid. Turns normally intelligent people into bible bashing morons and in the worst cases, politicians.
Yup, not to mention the alarmingly high number of autistic folks on this island.
3:29 pm
Here is some information:
-A newborn who gets a Hepatitis B injection on day ONE of life (welcome to this world!) would get 250 micrograms of aluminum.
-This would be repeated at one month of age
-at 2 months shot baby gets from 295 micrograms to a whopping 1225 micrograms if the highest aluminum brands are used
-A child would continue to get some aluminum throughout the first 2 years
So by the time a child is two years old he gets injected aluminum measured in GRAMS, not mcg.
-aluminum can build up to toxic levels in the bloodstream, bones, and brain when injected.
by the way 3 out of 4 autistic children are BOYS.
FDA feels (no studies were done) that premature babies and any patient with impaired kidney function shouldn’t get more than 10 to 25 micrograms of injected aluminum at any ONE TIME.
tNo studies have beed done that show that using aluminum in vaccines has been tested in human infants and found to be safe.
Here’s some more information:
Please don’t eat the foil paper just eat the chocolate.