(Trinidad Express) Port-of-Spain:

A new squad aimed at eradicating the deadly aedes aegypti mosquito, which has been wreaking havoc across the country, killing some and leaving many fighting for their lives, is now armed and ready to hit the streets.

The new squad of 110 Insect Vector Control Division (IVCD) inspectors, who have been trained how to use the various machines and mix chemicals, will be prowling your neighbourhood in search of the enemy. The new inspectors took the total number of sprayers and perifocal operators in the IVCD to 580.

Decked in their new uniforms and gas masks and carrying spraying cans, the members were paraded before the media Monday, even as more residents across the country pleaded for help.

Dr Clive Tilluckdharry, specialist medical officer attached to the IVCD, told members of the media gathered at the unit's St Joseph headquarters that the mosquito invasion at Frederick Settlement, Caroni, was now under control.

Tilluckdharry said: "Currently the aedes index in the area (Frederick Settlement) is 1.1, compared to 7.3 in late November, and I would like to remind you, that the acceptable level is under five per cent, which means that currently the area is safe in terms of aedes infestation."

Sprayed area

He said members of the IVCD had sprayed the area twice before and intend to return to complete their mission.

However, residents there intend to highlight their problem this morning along with their Member of Parliament, Jack Warner, and Opposition Chief Whip, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. Their action follows the recent death of a promising University of the West Indies engineering student, Camille Ramcharan, 22, from dengue.

Residents claimed that Health Minister, Jerry Narace, was not telling the truth when he said there was no dengue outbreak, because scores of persons in the village and other communities around the country were being admitted to the hospitals for treatment for the disease, almost on a daily basis.