The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ningo Prampram constituency, Samuel Nartey George, said studies are being carried out by entomologists to determine if the suspected black flies that invaded the Dawhenya Electoral Area and extended to parts of the Laluekpo Electoral Area in his constituency are forest or savannah species.
He said in a statement signed and issued in Accra on Friday that the outcome of the studies would inform the type of chemical agent to be used in abating the situation.
“Yesterday, Thursday 27th July 2023, a joint team from the District Health and Environmental Directorates together with officers from the Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit and the Noguchi Memorial Research Institute carried out a surveillance of possible breeding sites to detect the source of infestation.”
“A primary location was discovered with a substantial amount of larvae and pupae in trees close to a water body. Further studies to determine if these black flies are forest or savannah species are being carried out by entomologists. The outcome of these studies would inform the kind of chemical agent to be used in abating the situation,” Mr George stated.
He advised residents of the affected areas to cover up as much as possible, avoid staying outdoors in the early and late hours of the day as much as practical, and use repellants.
“My office would be working with the District Health Directorate and the Assemblymen for the affected areas to support with some repellants as a stop gap measure pending final directives from the experts,” he added.
Read the full statement below
