Dealing with the mosquito menace - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM

Saturday, November 07, 2009 11:41 PM

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Dealing with the mosquito menace

WIGNALL'S WORLD

Mark Wignall

Sunday, January 25, 2009

FOR at least the last 20 years, whenever mosquito infestation in my neighbourhood reaches unbearable levels and the community is fogged, the smell which enters my lungs as I open my doors and windows to give the insecticide freer passage has been indicative of the use of Malathion.

Considering that the infestation levels have not waned and in fact appear to have got worse, it seems to me that the health ministry would be better off just allowing each household to deal with its own problems in its own way. It seems not to have dawned on someone in the ministry that mosquitoes have developed an immunity to Malathion and that it is a grand waste of time to continue the useless exercise.

In my household, like many others, I usually have a tin of aerosol spray insecticide to deal with my immediate mosquito problems. But that is an expensive way of trying to knock down the bugs. Burning mosquito coils throughout the night provides only temporary relief. One usually knows when the coil burns out - the awful buzzing around the ears begins as the super-mosquitoes begin to make our lives miserable all over again.

Most Jamaicans are forced to set their electric fans on 'high'. It is a highly effective method of avoiding getting bitten throughout the night, but unfortunately requires a fan for each person in the household - providing, of course, that no one in the household suffers from sinus complications.

In my household I have four Vape heating plates which use mats that are supposed to be effective for 12 hours. One for each of the bedrooms being used and two for the living/dining area. The cheaper heating plates cost about J$800 while the plates which can utilise the mats plus a liquid vaporiser average out at $1,200. A 30-pack of Vape mats costs just under $300.

With mosquito infestation at the current level, the use of Vape mats is not exactly a priority item on poor people's shopping list.

I have been using Vape for about 18 years, but in the last three years have had a major complaint with regard to its use. First, the claim of being effective for 12 hours seems to be a bit of a stretch. Second, it doesn't seem to work as effectively as it used to.

One website gives the following description: "Vape MAT effectively kills mosquitoes and repels flies for 12 hours thanks to its advanced technology: each plate is made out of an exclusive filtering material and the filling is systematically controlled. The three exclusive holes of the plate allow the constant release of insecticide during the whole period of usage offering unbeatable effectiveness, even with light on and windows open. VAPE MAT plates offer their best performance with VAPE ELECTRONIC DIFFUSER, able to control at any time the appropriate evaporation temperature."

Last week I sent off an e-mail to the local manufacturers of the product, Agricultural Chemicals Plant. In my e-mail I pointed out to them that it was my view that the effectiveness of the active ingredient was nowhere near 12 hours. Plus it didn't seem to be working.

Their response was surprising, to say the least. "Good day to you. Your email on Vape Mat has been received by Agricultural Chemicals Plant, a division of Lascelles Limited. We are the representatives of Fumakilla, the principals of Vape.

"Your comments on Vape Mat come at an interesting time, as some time ago we detected that there were some species of mosquitoes that developed some levels of resistance to the active ingredient in Vape (Mat) - Prallethin. We did some extensive testing islandwide together with the Ministry of Health to verify this. What we found is that there were some species not only in Jamaica but in the Caribbean area that showed this resistance. We immediately embarked on an exercise to modify and upgrade the formulation for Vape, which has now been completed. This upgrade has been done using a new material which is safer and more efficacious than the current one. We are now in the process of registering this new formulation in Jamaica and other areas of the Caribbean, so very soon the one currently on the market will be replaced. We are sending you a sample of the new material, which we invite you to use and let us have your comments/reaction.
"We are confident that you will be satisfied with this new material. Please note however that each mat of Vape is designed to efficiently destroy mosquitoes in a room of up to 33m3 or up 1200ft3. We are sure that you will use the product in accordance with the directions on the box."

It is interesting to note that Fumakilla of Japan makes one mosquito formulation in Vape for the entire world. Based on what I have been told by Agricultural Chemicals, the mosquitoes in the Caribbean are somewhat of a super-species, probably made so by constantly dousing them with too much Malathion. With the new formulation, it means that Agricultural Chemicals has convinced the Japanese to design a new formula, specifically for the Caribbean, a first.
I have not yet received nor tested the samples.

It seems that it is not enough that Jamaica is one of the murder capitals of the world and will be facing terrible economic hardships this year. In addition, we can't sleep at nights because of a miniature plague. Let's hope for our sake that the new formula will be as effective as Agricultural Chemical says it will be.

Why not Jatropha (Physic nut) for fuel

With recent news of a New Zealand aeroplane using biofuel derived from what we here in Jamaica know as the 'physic nut', we are forced to ask our energy-starved nation if we are so locked into the old orthodoxies on fuel that we cannot see opportunity knocking.

Trevor Bogle, an engineer, has been an outspoken champion of alternative fuels. Few seem to be listening to him but there seems to be more than a kernel of 'truth' in what he has been saying. Take, for example, a part of his letter to the minister of finance. The letter was dated two months after the JLP won the elections.

"I have been an advocate of castor oil-derived biodiesel as it would flatten out the learning curve of our small farmers who are already accustomed to this indigenous plant. Furthermore, relatively good yields could be expected under modern agronomic practices provided by our team at the Ministry of Agriculture.

"However, the state of the art in oil seed production for biofuels has favoured Jatropha curcas, a tree that grows under similar conditions as castor but yields some 30 per cent more oil. So much so that biodiesel produced from Jatropha in India has eclipsed castor oil-derived biodiesel.

Naturally when land is viewed as a scarce resource as it must be for a small island, this markedly higher yields must be a serious consideration. All other things being equal Jatropha must be considered in our biofuel platform. Furthermore, with the tree producing oil seed after only eight to 12 months of growth, and well-cared trees are productive for 30 years, this will allow our small farmers to produce energy crop without too much diversion from producing food crops."

Is this an opportunity waiting to be wasted again? Or is it that politicians only listen to their friends? At this time of economic uncertainty, the government needs to think and act outside the box.

Excellent observation, research and proposal, Mr Bogle!

observemark@gmail.com

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