Insect and rodent control

It is usual for animal pens and out houses to be destroyed after hurricanes.

The manure in pens and the excrement in pit latrines will be exposed and liable to be a breeding ground for flies and other insects.

The places where rats and mice live might be disrupted, these rodents will roam looking for alternative habitats. During this period rat dropping and urine will be deposited in areas where humans frequent; thus contaminating food and other items, a potential for disease transmission.

Mosquito breeding will proliferate in the many exposed water holding containers, ponds, depressions etc.

While the Ministry of Health on general control, each individual must play his/her role in controlling these insects. Many diseases can spread after a disaster.

Typhoid by flies
Dengue fever by mosquitoes
Leptospirosis and Salmonella by rodents.

It is therefore necessary to adhere to instructions set out under solid waste.

Excreta Disposal

Your water source might be disrupted. Water for flushing toilets might not be available. In that event:

All human excretes from individual dwelling should be placed in a hole one foot wide and three feet deep and covered at the end of each use with six inches of soil and a final covering of twelve inches.

All temporary provisions for waste disposal should be fifty feet downhill or downstream of any source of water used for dinking, cleaning or bathing.

Latrines used at shelters for short periods should consist of a trench one foot wide and three to five feet deep and ten to twelve feet in length for every one hundred people.

Deep trench latrines five to eight feet deep and two to three feet wide can be used.

Latrines used for a large collection of persons should have five seats provided for one hundred persons with separate blocks for men and women.

Water should be provided for cleaning purposes

Note:
Any further information about Sanitation and Food Hygiene can be obtained by contacting the nearest Public Health Inspector's Office.