Ministry of Agriculture teams in Liberia spray insecticide in areas infested by a destructive caterpillar
(LINA) – The Bong County Health Team has confirmed reports of another army worms invasion of several parts of Zota District in the county.
Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Gabriel Logan, who led a team to the district Wednesday, said the worms have invaded several farms.
Dr. Logan named some of the affected communities as Nyensu, Shankpallah, Lawor-ta, Kollie-ta, Gbela-, Bellelai, Kelenyea, Taota, Malanyea, Kolonta, and Siakia-ta, among others.
He told the Liberia News Agency that several residents of the affected areas have left their farms as a result of the invasion, stressing the need for urgent intervention.
Dr. Logan noted that the health team has instructed residents of the affected areas not to drink from the nearby creeks and to take good care their food items and other basic materials.
Dr. Logan is also recommending immediate intervention to rehabilitate damaged hand pumps in the affected areas to provide safe drinking water for the residents.
When contacted Thursday, Bong County Agriculture Coordinator Monica Honoree told LINA she could neither confirm nor deny the army worms invasion but said a team from her office has been dispatched to the district to verify the report.
Honoree said her office is closely working with the county administration and health team to collect samples from the affected areas to determine the exact situation.
She said her office is currently preparing spraying materials for intervention when the caterpillar invasion is conformed.
