St. Kitts Authorities Ban Products Containing Dimefluthurin

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts CMC – St. Kitts-Nevis health authorities have placed an immediate ban on the use and importation of any brand of the Black Mosquito Coil product containing the ingredient, dimefluthrin,

The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board and the Ministry of Health say the risks of dimefluthrin have not been completely studied and that “there is concern that this chemical may cause harm to the lungs when inhaled.

“Black Mosquito Coil containing dimefluthrin have not been approved for importation and sale in the Federation.  Importers and sellers of this product are doing so in violation of the law. “

The authorities say they would continue “to carry out the actions necessary to stop the importation and sale of all brands of Black Mosquito Coil that contain dimefluthrin”.

Dimefluthrin is a pyrethroid chemical used as an insecticide. Ingestion and other exposures to the chemical can cause various symptoms. The type and severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of chemical involved and the nature of the exposure.

But among the symptoms include burning facial sensation, respiratory tract irritation , headache, dizziness, nausea, fluid in lungs, running nose and convulsions.