Preventive measures

The Ministry of Health, following on the Yellow Fever alert in Venezuela, should warn fishermen operating from areas along the South coast of Trinidad, and who fish in or near to Venezuela’s waters of the importance of being vaccinated against Yellow Fever. In addition, effective preventive measures against the infectious viral disease which can cause liver and kidney problems, should include the regular inspecting of their boats for the aedes aegypti mosquitoes, transmitters of Yellow Fever. The vessels should also be sprayed by officers of the Insect Vector Division. In turn, sloops and fishing vessels, indeed all vessels, which call at the country’s ports from Venezuela should be routinely inspected and sprayed. Records should be kept of this anti Yellow Fever activity, and supervisors of the Insect Vector Division should make unannounced calls to ensure that preventive measures are strictly carried out. This has become necessary because over the years some of the Ministry of Health workers assigned duties at the Port-of-Spain schooner area, for example, have been clearly less than vigilant.

An unfortunate example, several years ago, was the relative ease with which the mealy bug entered the country through ports which had not been as effectively handled by Health Ministry personnel as they should have been. As a result, farmers and plant growers suffered millions of dollars in lost revenue. While we do not advance that there is cause for alarm, we maintain, nonetheless, that there is reason for concern and suitable preventive measures. This country has already seen what international reaction to Yellow Fever can do do to the economy. In 1954, for example, Trinidad’s tourism industry, including hotels, restaurants, taxi drivers, curio vendors and stores lost millions of dollars when several cruise ships cancelled calls here. In turn, in transit passengers on other vessels were prevented from disembarking. The situation was eased somewhat, and then just barely, when the then Tourist Board arranged for cruise ships to call at Tobago instead and hurriedly constructed a pier there to facilitate tourists wishing to go sightseeing.

Particular attention must be paid to movement between here and Venezuela, as many Trinidadians reportedly slip in and out of the neighbouring Republic, entering and leaving through places that are not authorised ports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the Ministry of Health should mount a public education campaign urging all persons, regardless, who have travelled to Venezuela within recent weeks, or are planning on travelling there, to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever. This will not mean a condoning of illegal travel, but a recognition that something has to be done to prevent the spread of the viral disease to Trinidad and Tobago. This country cannot afford to be less than vigilant. Already, it may be at risk by persons trafficking in the illegal cocaine transshipment and/or contraband trade with Venezuela, or by less than concerned fishermen.