indicate that the number of infections keep rising at an alarming rate. The most recent report indicates that there are currently more than 500 chikun- gunya cases in Suriname. Two weeks ago there were about 300 chikun- gunya cases. Health Minister André Misiekaba still does not see any rea- son to label the current situation a disaster. “There are no disaster areas in Suriname.” Last Thursday 509 chikun- gunya cases were reported to the min- ister. “We currently have a situation where we are doing everything we can to keep it under control,” said Minister Misiekaba. Earlier this week mem- bers of the opposition criticized

government officials. MP Mahinder Jogi (VHP) infuriated both the coalition as well as the government when he stated that very little is being done to tackle chikungunya. Last Tuesday Minister Misiekaba announced that chemicals would be imported so that the fumi- gation campaign could be launched in several neighborhoods. He explained that it is not easy to get these chemicals into Suriname because not all of the airlines are allowed to transport them. The national carrier, Surinam Airways (SLM), also does not have the green light to transport chemicals. Minister Misiekaba explained that new chemi- cals would be imported because the Aedes aegypti mosquito has become re- sistant to Malathion, the pesticide that was always used to tackle the spread of dengue.