Several species have learnt to breed and thrive in hostile conditions
Mosquitoes in Hyderabad have become smarter!
They
have evolved and learnt to breed in hostile conditions. Once they were
only confined to breeding in deposits of fresh stagnant water. These
days, however, there are several species of mosquitoes that have evolved
and breed even in sewerage water.
The mosquito
species, Anopheles stephensi, a very common malaria vector, which
usually breeds in fresh stagnant water is now able to multiply in
sewage.
This finding of zoologists involved in
research of mosquito-borne ailments in Hyderabad, has far reaching
implications on public and officials involved in malaria control
programme.
Endemic
“Malaria
is not a seasonal disease anymore. It has become endemic in Hyderabad.
The most common vector stephensi can now breed in drain water. One
should not be surprised if cases of malaria occur throughout the year in
Hyderabad and not just during winter or monsoons,” says Researcher and
Associate Professor (Zoology) Osmania University, Dr. B. Reddya Naik. A
few years ago, extensive research was taken up by the team of Dr. Reddya
Naik at several points along the banks of river Musi under the GHMC
limits.
During the course of the research, the team
had managed to identify different species of various genera of
mosquitoes in Hyderabad.In a way the drainage
network has played its part in the rising population of mosquitoes in
urban areas, the research team in its report concluded.
Constant
choking and debris in drainage network leads to formation of tiny
eddies and puddles, which are enough for the mosquitoes to breed, the
research team said.
These mosquitoes cause a host of mosquito borne-diseases including malaria, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis.“Everyone
involved in mosquito control programme has to realise that preventive
measures to fight malaria and other ailments should be year long.
There
is no use of fogging and efforts should be on controlling mosquito
reproduction by targeting the breeding hot spots,” Dr. Reddya Naik
pointed out.Many also pointed out the need to have a sustained effort to control mosquito breeding.
“Mosquito
breeding can be controlled if only done throughout the year. It’s not
just the government, even general public, private companies and NGOs
should come forward in this endeavour. Then only, we can win the fight,”
feels former District Malaria Officer, Govardhan Rao.
