Urban News

The Hindu       10.06.2010

MCC launches drive against mosquitoes

Staff Correspondent

Larvae-eating fish:Mayor Sandesh Swamy releasing gambusia and guppy fingerlings into the Karanji Lake in Mysore on Wednesday. Mysore City Corporation Health Officer T.S. Nagaraj is at right.

MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) on Wednesday formally launched its drive against breeding of mosquitoes by releasing fingerlings of gambusia and guppy, mosquito larvae-eating fish species, into the Kukkarahalli and Karanji lakes in the city.

Mayor Sandesh Swamy symbolically released the fingerlings into the Karanji Lake. He was accompanied by MCC Health Officer T.S. Nagaraj and officials of the Health Department. Fingerlings were also released into the Dalvoy and Lingambudhi lakes.

These species of fish give birth to young ones and live on the water surface. The larvae-eating fish is not suitable for consumption. Common Carp, another species, will be released into the lakes shortly. Gambusia and guppy can kill substantial per cent of larvae, and thus, control breeding of mosquitoes, according to MCC officials.

Fingerlings were also distributed free of cost at People's Park opposite Sub-Urban Bus Stand for keeping in water storage areas in households.

Mosquitoes spread the chikungunya virus they pick up from an infected person during “viraemic” period, within five days from the day of the beginning of symptoms. The epidemic is spread by “aedes mosquitoes”.

They breed in clean water; water stored for washing, cleaning and bathing; rainwater collected in unused containers and unused tyres, etc. These mosquitoes are active during sunrise and sunset and bite during the day.

An infected mosquito will remain infected all its life and can transmit the virus each time it bites.

But an infected person cannot spread the infection directly to others, according to doctors.

Mosquitoes breed during May and June. During these months, cases of fever are reported, and therefore, the Health Department is on alert.