A fishy solution

A fishy solution

Kerala, once known for its cleanliness, is feverishly battling a host of vector-borne diseases. At least 8 lakh people have been affected with the viral epidemic this time round. The government has now enforced a blanket ban on plastic bags, a known environmental hazard, and redrawn its static vector-control programmes.

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The Thiruvananthapuram city corporation has started saline flushing of drains and gutters, as mosquito larvae cannot survive in saline water. The guppy fish, a known larvae eater, has been introduced in stagnant water pools in a big way. “Biological studies have proved that this predatory fish is an effective ways to check the multiplication of the virus carriers,” explains corporation health officer Dr Sreekumar.