WEST AND NORTH URGED TO HEED TERMITE ADVISORIES

Members of the public residing in Lautoka and Labasa are urged to heed the advisories regarding the current swarming season for the Asian Subterranean Termite (AST). Biosecurity Authority of Fiji acting chief executive officer, Surend Pratap, said the swarming period was from August till November.

“BAF continuously provides awareness, control, management and treatments for AST throughout the year to affected parties in the affected districts like Lautoka and Labasa,” he said.

He said the termites normally wither in normal dry weather which was why they opt to breed in moist areas.

“BAF would like to urge members of the public, particularly those living in infected areas to not bring any host materials (soil, wood, pot plants, building materials, firewood, clothing and paper products stored for extended periods) to their houses or compounds without BAF inspections and approvals,” Mr Pratap said.

“Keep their properties, homes, belongings and surroundings free of moisture repair all leakages promptly, remove all wooden materials away from homes and if storing, put it above the soil surface, use properly treated wooden materials to make and repair their structures.”

Mr Pratap encouraged those residing in affected areas to report all signs and symptoms of AST to the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji.

The AST short codes that the general public can contact are 5993 for Labasa and 5996 for Lautoka.