Ahenkanfmonline.com Ahenkan 93,3 FM
A novel breed of mosquitoes that is more harmful than anopheles has caused some people in the Eastern Region to express regret.
Residents of Birim Central Municipality, Akyemansa District, Asene Manso Akroso, Denkyembour District, and Achiase District have all taken heed of this incident.
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, a segment of Ahenkan FM’s Maakye morning show featured an interview with some of the residents. They stated that although they are aware that mosquitoes typically attack during the night, these specific insects bother and bite them all day and night in both houses and farms.
The residents claim that before they can leave for their farms, they must dress like American Ninjas to avoid mosquitoes, while they stress that this is no laughing issue.
They said the presence of mosquitoes threatened their health and property.
According to them, a lot of people have been admitted to hospitals because of the malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.
Additionally, a resident of Amakrom, Denkyembour District, stated that on Thursday, someone had passed away, and she suspected the cause was insects.
Scores of inhabitants have called on the municipal and district chief executives to fumigate affected communities to eradicate mosquitoes and other hazardous insects.
They believed a key strategy for getting rid of mosquitoes and other dangerous pests would be to regularly disinfect public toilets, market areas, and gathering places.
Ebenezer Atsu, the Birim Central Municipal Environmental Health Officer, responded to the incidents by advising everyone residing in the areas that were affected to make a report to their assembly members.
He says that this is necessary so that the Assembly Members can inform Zoomlion of the situation and carry out the fumigation process.
The aforementioned municipality’s and district’s health officers have yet to conduct a probe into the incidents involving a novel breed of mosquito.
“Anopheles Stephensi”
It will be recalled that the Ghana Health Service in 2023 confirmed the invasion of the dangerous new mosquito “Anopheles Stephensi” breeding in the country.
Anopheles Stephensi first invaded Africa in 2019; the countries include Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria, and unfortunately, Ghana was confirmed in March 2023.
According to the report by the World Health Organisation, the new breed, known as Anopheles Stephensi, is also a malaria-transmitting mosquito, very invasive, spreads faster, and can adapt to a myriad of climate conditions.
This breed produces both Plasmodium falciparum (the deadliest species of plasmodium that causes malaria) and P. vivax malaria parasites.
Also, a recent mathematical modelling study by the World Health Organisation showed the spread of An. stephensi and the implications for malaria transmission and control in Africa.
One study projected that An. stephensi could put an additional 126 million people in Africa at risk of malaria if the mosquito vector were to spread unchecked.
The statement also reveals that this breed is resistant to multiple insecticides, which makes control very difficult. It is not yet known what can really kill it.
Source: Ahenkanfmonline.net
