The government, and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) trained and then engaged NYS personnel as the frontline locust control staff. Therefore, monitoring their health cannot be gainsaid and needs to be a top priority for the government and Desert Locust Control Organization (DLCO). Pesticides are a double-edged sword: They kill destructive pests while producing short- and long-term health effects in humans and other beneficial organisms. The locust control staff need to be checked for blood levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a vital substance in nerve conduction. POISONPesticides, particularly organophosphates (OP), are widely used in locust control campaigns.

Source: Daily Nation July 27, 2020 20:37 UTC