Fogging isn’t the best option against adult mosquitoes

NEW DELHI: Put a check on mosquito breeding to protect yourself against vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya, say experts.

NEW DELHI: Put a check on mosquito breeding to protect yourself against vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya, say experts.

HT Image

“Prevention of mosquito breeding is the focus of the government’s dengue-prevention strategy this year,” said Dr SM Raheja, head of Delhi’s dengue control cell, which was created this year. The disease had affected 16,000 people last year and claimed 60 lives.

Using the patient data from the year before, the dengue hot-spots of the city were mapped and special attention paid to areas like Narela, Bawana and Trilokpuri.

“The onus for preventing breeding lies not only with the government or the municipal corporation, but also with the people who need to ensure that there are no breeding spots in their homes,” Dr Raheja said, adding, that people must observe a “dry-day” once a week. On their off-days, people must clean and dry any containers, potted plants or feng-shui plants where clean stagnant water is present to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

“By observing a dry-day, people break the life cycle of the aedes aegypti mosquito that takes eight to ten days to become an adult,” said Dr Raheja.

FOGGING DOESN’T WORK

Once the mosquitoes are adult, fogging becomes ineffective. “Fogging is not very effective when done in the open. A contact poison is used for fogging to paralyse the mosquitoes when they come in contact, but it does not kill all mosquitoes in the open. Fogging is mainly done in areas where mosquito density is high,” said Dr BK Hazarika, a municipal health officer from South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Fogging inside a house is effective, but it may aggravate health problems such as asthma, allergy and other respiratory conditions. “It is rarely done as people do not allow MCD workers to come inside their homes. After fogging, the occupants of a house need to stay out for at least 20-30 minutes to avoid adverse health impacts,” he said.

PROTECTING YOURSELF

People must do all they can to protect themselves from mosquito bites during monsoon, when transmission of diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya is at its peak.

Wear lose clothes that cover your arms and legs. “This reduces the surface area where the mosquitoes might bite. If wearing full clothes is not possible, then use mosquito repellents,” said Dr Raheja.

.