St. James public health officials worried about risks due to pileup of waste

 

 

 

Public health officials in St. James are raising alarm over a buildup of bulky waste since Hurricane Melissa, warning that the conditions are fuelling an increase in the rodent population and heightening the risk of leptospirosis and food safety concerns.

 

Acting Chief Public Health Inspector for St. James, Sherika Lewis, says the situation is particularly worrying in the Montego Bay business district, where there is a high concentration of food establishments.

 

Up to December 6, health authorities recorded 84 reported cases of leptospirosis islandwide, including 30 confirmed cases and 12 related deaths, seven of which were confirmed, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

 

St. James has recorded the highest number of cases at 18, followed by St. Ann with 12, and St. Catherine with 11.

 

Ms. Lewis says the Public Health Department will be implementing a range of measures aimed at eradicating rodents and reducing the associated health risks.

 

"For this rodent control programme, which will span a period of six months, we will be conducting a phased rodent control operation and will be covering areas of the parish. And this is parish-wide, so we'll be in the main commercial district of the city as well as high-risk communities. We will be deploying and maintaining several bait stations. We will be setting 3,040 bait stations, which will hold approximately 1,824 kilogrammes of bait," she disclosed.

 

Ms. Lewis said there will also be a focus on the removal of uncollected waste. 

 

"We are twinning both the mosquito control programme and the rodent control programme to remove bulky waste from the various communities. And also we will be collecting uncollected waste as well. Everyday garbage is still an issue and we know the challenges that we have been experiencing in the parish, and the St. James Health Department wants to partner and to assist. Once the population goes down, then the risk of diseases, the risk of persons' businesses going out of order is lessened," she reasoned.

 

Prior to hurricane Melissa, public health officials had flagged sections of the business district due to the presence of rodents. 

 

Inspector Lewis said the rodent eradication programme is expected to continue over a sustained period with field inspections allowing for the mapping of hotspots. 

 

This, she noted, will be the focus of future interventions.