Government at War with Dengue
Submitted by fyl on Sun, 2007/06/17 - 09:03.
Prensa Latina reports on the Nicaraguan Government's war to eradicate Dengue.
In an effort to avoid the epidemic, MINSA have trained 50,000 people and distributed 290,000 kg of chemicals as part of a campaign to fight mosquito Aedes Aegypti breeding grounds.
While I haven't heard of any Dengue cases in Estelí yet, there are a lot of mosquitos and MINSA has started spraying.
MegaCatch
Just wanted to toss in that I have been using a MegaCatch to capture the dudes. It uses a combination of blinking LEDs to simulate movement and a small light (that I assume is just there for the heat) to attract them. A fan then blows them into a pan of water with a bit of soap to break the surface tension and a bit of coca cola to smell good.
It certainly captures zancudos but the ideal location is upwind from where you don't want them and I just don't have an ideal location. It also seems to attract moths but I haven't seen any other insects in it other than one grasshopper or, more accurately, pieces of one grasshopper.
There are other units on the market. Most use burning propane to create heat and CO2. This unit has a big brother that uses a CO2 tank to add CO2 to the mix. This unit cost $200 and the CO2 one costs quite a bit more. I had some thoughts about making a "Nicaraguan-style" unit where you figure out how to produce CO2 using baking soda and vinegar. I say Nicaraguan-style as it would probably cost less to operate but require re-filling every day.
Bright lights
Will draw mozzys no matter what, also co2.. not so much the heat. Fans will also discourage them as they don't fly so good in a breeze. I wonder if there would be a way to mfg large megacatch type units to place between breeding areas & human habitations. Like ring around a small town.
Repellent
Check out www.mosquitobarrier.com We will be bringing some down. Nice thing it can be used to keep pests out of crops also. Don't see why this can't be made in Nicaragua.
Yes
I had seen that before but forgot about it. I tend to eat a lot of garlic and then the critters bite my wife instead. :-) Anyway, great idea. (Sue: I added it to the wiki.) Note that the typical garlic you buy here is from China (amazing as that seems). I have been told it is because people want the big heads and garlic grown here is smaller. But, in this case, size doesn't matter--strength does.
Anyone know what MINSA does use? I am sure it has something nasty in it but it smells like diesel.
thanks for the link . . .
another great use for garlic. I there any reason NOT to grow this stuff. Talk about nature's wonder. The sale price of this seems prohibitive for Nicaragua as an import but, if you could get the recipe it'd be a hit if it could be made locally - and a real lifesaver
Recipe
The MSDS is posted on the website. Only three ingredients, garlic, citric acid um & some other simple thing I forget. Interestingly citric acid is what I use to make mozzarella cheese stretchy when I make it homemade.
Cheap veg oil and liquid soap is needed for some applications for the Mosquitobarrier. Soap is simple & cheap to make w/locally available materials.
There are some minor issues with the product. Should be no rain for 12 hrs prior & 48 hrs after application. If this is done it will last thru 3 or so rainfalls.(for product applied to veg) You'd need to spray every 3-4 weeks or so. You also need a cannister sprayer, but it could be shared among several families. You'd need to spray the larval areas to kill them also.
As part of an overall control plan it would be very valuable. Bed nets and educating people in getting rid of standing water will help also. I know neem grows very well in Nicaragua and also catnip which yield a very effective insect repellent. Another useful product that can be sold here or exported to the US or elsewhere.