Evacuation of offshore platform, and skin rash and bumps among residents

The plague of furry moths which began invading the south-eastern coastal villages for the last two weeks, has caused allergic reactions in hundreds of residents, especially in children. The moths, yet to be identified, have unleashed a reign of terror over the fishing village population since last Friday.

The steady influx of the moths caused villagers to break out in skin rashes and bumps and sometimes swelling of the skin.

Yesterday an invasion of the moths caused an evacuation of the crewmen working on offshore platforms at Trinmar operations off Point Fortin.

Trinmar’s Health and Safety department took samples of the insects and has taken them for testing at laboratories at the University of the West Indies.

"Everybody is afraid to go close to it. It is frightening and it made me feel like death is coming so you have to close your door and stay inside. I thought it was the end of time when I saw this thing coming in here by the thousands," said Cedros resident Indra Beharry. "The authorities need to get this thing cleaned up," she said.

Beharry gave Newsday a description of the tiny insect that has been plaguing her village. "The wings are cream and brown. It has a very pretty yellow body — it is fluffy like velvet. But the effect seems almost deadly," said Beharry. She said her eight-year-old son, Stephen, experienced severe itching and bumps broke out on his neck, elbow, under his feet and behind his knees. She treated him with hydrocortisone cream and together with a home remedy of a sea bath, using branches of caraille bush.

Yesterday, the County Medical Officer of Health (St Patrick), visited Icacos where the invasion of moths seems to converge the most. Officials at the Cedros Health Centre said they treated 11 persons who sought medical treatment for the strain of dermatitis. Scores of others telephoned for medical advice. The official said they have been treating the rash and bumps with steroids, such as Hydrocortizone and Piriton. Health officials have advised affected persons to also use baking soda in their bath water and apply calamine lotion to the affected areas.

An online newspaper — Terramerica — yesterday stated that since last September, a moth identified as the "hylesia metabus," affected Venezuelan residents along the northeastern coast.

It was stated that an "explosion" of the moth species fomented by Hurricane Ivan last September, caused allergic reactions in thousands of people. Researcher Frances Osborn of the Venezuela Universidad de Oriente explained in the online article that the insect at the adult stage, releases harmful hairs. Each female can produce up to 400 eggs and they release the hairs to protect the eggs. Osborn said children are the most vulnerable because their skin is more sensitive than that of adults.

Beharry told Newsday that the moths which come out in the thousands at nightfall, have been traumatising residents who have no choice but to keep their homes in complete darkness.

The moths are attracted to light, she added.