Activities of Consultant upon Arrival

We recommended that the consultant initially contact the international or bilateral agency that arranged the visit. The emergency or disaster committee with a vector control subcommittee if one exists, should then be contacted. Whatever the points of technical contact may be, it is the consultant's responsibility to obtain a clear concept of what is required to identify his designated counterpart in the government and to maintain close communication with appropriate authorities.

In most cases, the consultant will be asked to help the government assess the problem, outline control procedures and train personnel. The initial assessment may be difficult because of problems in transportation and communication. Maps and graphs prepared by the government will provide some information. However, there will be areas from which little or no information is available, and there will have to be adjustments to insufficiency of the information. There may be inventories of vector control equipment and supplies. These should be inspected as soon as possible.

Evaluation of information gathered in an early reconnaissance of the distribution, densities and stages of development of vector species is very useful. The consultant should be provided ground transportation for surveillance purposes and, if possible, the assigned vehicle should have four-wheel drive. In addition, information obtained in aerial reconnaissance can quickly provide a comprehensive overview of the areas and can give indication of possible methods of attack.

Outlining control procedures is often a difficult task. The effects of a given disaster may warrant the use of new technology to rapidly control vectors. Not all modern technology, however, is appropriate for use under all circumstances. A country may be aware of the existence of certain new types of equipment, insecticides and technology, and will seek to find out if they should be used. Sophisticated equipment may be used for the short-term relief from vector related problems. However, usual vector control methods, directed toward the larvae or the resting adults, may prove to be more effective and less expensive. Equipment that rusts on shelves kills few mosquitoes.