The
invasion
of
a
new
breed
of
mosquitoes
causing
illness
in
four
districts
in
the
Eastern
Region
should
be
a
great
concern
not
only
to
experts
who
should
find
the
antidote
to
the
situation
but
also
the
rest
of
the
country.
The
districts
are
Akyeamansa,
Achiasi,
Birim
South,
and
Birim
Central
and
so
far,
at
least
300
people
have
been
taken
ill
from
the
bites
of
the
mosquitoes.
It
is
very
good
that
the
District
Chief
Executives
(DCEs)
of
the
affected
four
assemblies
in
the
Eastern
Region
have
called
on
the
Ghana
Health
Service
(GHS)
to
help
curb
the
invasion
of
the
new
breed
of
mosquitoes.
The
mosquitoes,
typically
found
in
cocoa
farms,
are
said
to
be
large
and
black
with
some
whitish
markings.
The
reports
of
the
DCEs
have
come
in
timely
because
they
have
prompted
the
Ghana
Health
Service
(GHS)
to
put
together
a
team
to
investigate
the
situation
and
the
findings
used
to
address
it.
We
believe
in
the
competence
of
the
GHS
in
dealing
with
a
situation
like
this
because
it
has
handled
a
similar
situation
before.
It
will
be
recalled
that
in
April,
last
year,
the
GHS
confirmed
the
presence
in
the
country
of
a
new
mosquito
species,
Anopheles
stephensi,
described
as
a
malaria-transmitting
species.
The
GHS
investigated
it
and
came
out
with
its
characteristics
that
made
it
unique
from
already-known
malaria-transmitting
mosquito
species.
For
instance,
the
GHS
said
the
Anopheles
stephensi,
had
the
ability
to
breed
in
a
variety
of
sources
besides
the
traditional
sites
noted
for
the
breeding
of
Anopheles.
Then
in
addition,
it
could
survive
in
extremely
high
temperatures
during
the
dry
season
when
malaria
transmission
usually
declines,
making
it
difficult
to
control.
However,
the
GHS
formed
a
task
force
to
coordinate
and
advise
on
actions
to
combat
Anopheles
and
then
called
on
its
partners
to
support
in
intensifying
education,
particularly
on
environmental
management,
to
reduce
all
the
sites
conducive
for
breeding
mosquitoes,
while
it
continued
to
monitor
the
spread
of
Anopheles
Stephensi.
Then
it
advised
the
public
to
take
precaution
such
as
sleeping
under
insecticide-treated
mosquito
nets,
using
mosquito
repellents
and
wearing
clothing
that
protects
people
from
mosquito
bites
outside
their
homes.
We
believe
GHS
would,
as
usual,
follow
the
best
practice
measures
in
dealing
with
the
current
situation,
but
until
its
investigations
are
completed,
we
do
not
think
it
would
be
wrong
for
the
public
to
follow
existing
measures
used
to
combat
mosquito
invasion.
Thus,
we
think
to
start
with,
all
cocoa
farms
must
be
sprayed
and
other
existing
measures
followed,
including
seeking
medical
care.
Therefore,
those
bitten
by
the
new
species
of
mosquitoes
yet
to
be
identified
must
seek
medical
care
rather
than
doing
self-medication.
Our
only
appeal
is
that
the
GHS
should
work
with
the
urgency
the
situation
deserves
and
stop
the
rising
numbers
of
cases
being
recorded
in
the
four
districts
before
they
would
spread
to
other
parts
of
the
country