Tag: Mosquito Research and Control Unit
MRCU methods revert but no news on inquiry
(CNS): Minister Dwayne Seymour has made no further comment about complaints made by staff at the Mosquito Research and Control Unit that the director was undermining the work of the critical department. But the minister responsible for the MRCU has revealed that efforts to combat the pest have reverted to tried and tested methods. Seymour […]
Complaints about MRCU boss under investigation
(CNS): Complaints by staff of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit about the director, Dr Jim McNelly, are under investigation, Health Minister Dwayne Seymour and Acting Chief Officer Nellie Pouchie have confirmed. The complaints were set out in a letter to the ministry in July, signed by what is believed to be a significant number […]
Sahara dust and mozzie surge add to 2020 trouble
(CNS): Earthquakes, dump fires, a pandemic, and now a dust cloud from the Sahara Desert and a surge in mosquitoes are combining to make 2020 a pretty miserable year. While the dust plume stretching across the Caribbean will produce some pretty sunsets, it will also make life uncomfortable for those with respiratory problems. Meanwhile, a […]
MRCU boss denies dead bees linked to spraying
(CNS): Mosquito Research and Control Unit Director Dr Jim McNelly told Finance Committee on Tuesday that the MRCU has no evidence to link its work with anecdotal claims of dead bees. McNelly has not yet responded to enquiries by CNS, following reports by concerned readers last week that several people saw a significant number of […]
MRCU main suspect in mass bee deaths
(CNS): Hundreds of dead and dying bees along Seven Mile Beach caused significant public concern yesterday, and the cause may be the Mosquito Research and Control Unit’s aerial spraying. In response to CNS inquiries, the Department of Environment said the situation was serious and that they had raised their concerns about the deaths, and while […]
MRCU steps up efforts to combat mosquitoes
(CNS): The Public Health Department and the Mosquito Research and Control Unit are working on mitigating the health impact of the current dengue outbreak, officials said in a press release following the confirmation that six people in Cayman have contracted the disease. With three of those infected having no travel history, the authorities are undertaking […]
Local dengue fever cases climbing
(CNS): Following last week’s announcement of a case of locally transmitted dengue fever in a patient in East End with no travel history, public health officials have confirmed that, as of Thursday, there were six cases, three in patients that had been overseas and three who contracted it here. The Public Health Department has still […]
Local dengue case reported to HSA
(CNS): A local resident who has contracted dengue fever has no recent travel history, public health officials are warning as they urged people to take precautions against mosquito bites. Dengue, which is transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti, causing cyclical outbreaks every three years or so, is an infectious disease that can be deadly. […]
MRCU using controversial pesticide
(CNS) Updated: The Mosquito Research and Control Unit has confirmed it is still using a controversial pesticide as part of its arsenal of weapons against the pests. In response to enquiries by CNS, MRCU Director Jim McNelly said chlorpyrifos is used as a rotational tool where mosquitoes exhibit a resistance to pyrethroid-based products. But this […]
Concerns grow over mosquito control
(CNS): From the impact on the bee population to pellets contaminating water cisterns, a growing number of people in Cayman are raising the alarm about the current policies of the ministry responsible for the Mosquito Research and Control Unit. While Cayman has always battled the various native and invasive mosquitoes through different means, at present […]
Miller urges gov’t to sort problems with MRCU
(CNS): Ezzard Miller is calling on the government to remedy the serious mosquito infestation plaguing his North Side constituency, which appears to be due to a lack of the necessary chemicals to kill the insects. The MLA, who recently resigned from the opposition leadership, said government should immediately fund the purchase of the insecticides needed […]
