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Pest control in Dubai: Things you need to know
Residents have been urged not to conduct pest control by themselves or use chemicals sold by individuals.
- PUBLISHED: Tue 11 Apr 2017, 2:37 PM UPDATED: Wed 12 Apr 2017, 5:38 PM
- By:
- Web Desk
- In March 2017, an Arab girl died after inhaling poisonous chemicals sprayed in their home in Abu Dhabi to kill cockroaches.
- In March 2015, a three-week-old Syrian boy died after inhaling aluminium phosphide that had seeped into the family apartment through the air vents from a neighbouring apartment in Sharjah.
- In August 2014, a three-year-old Filipino girl died in a Dubai hospital where she was being treated for pesticide poisoning.
- In a separate incident in the same month, a Filipino died and five others were hospitalised after inhaling the highly toxic 'rodentcide', which leaked into their apartment from a neighbouring flat.
- In 2010, two of the triplets of a Palestinian family in Ajman died after inhaling poisonous chemicals sprayed as pesticides in their neighbour's house. The next day, 12 Indians and Bangladeshi workers were rushed to Al Kuwaiti Hospital in Sharjah presenting with problems like vomiting and breathing trouble after inhaling poisonous gases from pesticides sprayed in their accommodation in Industrial Area 10.
- In August 2008, a 28-year-old Indian civil engineer died at Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah after he suffered severe nausea and vomiting caused by the pesticides sprayed in his home.
Measures to control harmful chemicals
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The UAE has initiated strict measures over the recent years to control and prevent the use of harmful chemicals.
Health officials in Dubai have issued warnings about hiring illegal companies, with municipal regulations prohibiting importing, handling and trading of pesticides without permission.
Officials said the pesticides used must comply with specifications approved by Dubai municipality, health and environmental standards and technical requirements.
In Abu Dhabi, pest control companies must be registered with the Centre for Waste Management and the Department of Economic Development.
In Dubai, all pest control contractors must be approved by the Public Health Pest Control Section of the Public Health Services Department.
In Sharjah, the companies must register with the municipality.
Besides, the Ministry of Environment and Water last year issued a new resolution that prohibits the distribution of any pesticide without proper registration from the ministry.
According to the new resolution, banned pesticides cannot be registered or imported into the country, while companies are barred from using pesticides without the ministry's approval.
In case of suspected poisoning
The Food Control Department of the Dubai Municipality have suggested the following rules for the public to save human lives in case of suspected poisoning:
If severe vomiting is noticed, don't conclude that it is a case of food poisoning. Notify the food control and the pest department immediately.
In Dubai, a notification would trigger an investigation to check both food and environmental exposure. You can also avoid the last meal bias by allowing us to investigate. It may not be the food that you think that has caused the illness.
Notification should be done immediately so that authorities can go and check the premises. Any delay would reduce the probability of finding the problem.
Public should refrain from using such chemicals. Notify the municipality at 800900 if anyone is found selling Aluminium Phosphide, popularly known as 'bomb.'
People should also look for signs of fumigation such as bugs falling dead and neighbours sealing their doors with tapes especially during weekends.
Contact a pest control agency approved by the Dubai Municipality for managing pests. Take preventive measures.
What to do in case of suspected poisoning:
* Immediately open doors
* Come out to an open area rich in oxygen
* Call an ambulance.
