TMC on toes to tackle mosquito menace in city

Thane: In an attempt to tackle the growing mosquito menace since the past few weeks in the city, the civic administration has been undertaking an array of measures like fumigation, spraying etc. in various pockets of the city.
The experts have attributed this rise of these insects to the growing construction sites in the city. They stated that almost everywhere in the city construction of buildings, flyovers, metro etc. is underway and these sites always have puddle of water lying around which act as breeding spots to mosquitos.

“Mosquitos are cold blooded and they breed during warm temperature but due to the growing construction sites even in winter these insects are currently been seen. For these insects even a small puddle is enough to lay over thousand eggs. So if water is accumulated at a construction site or even at homes in a tiny bowl or plate, they lay their eggs and breed. During monsoon the cases are not much as the rains destroy the breeding spots but post monsoon especially during October there is a minor rise as there are puddles and even the temperature is adequate for breeding but usually the number goes down in winter,” said a senior officer from the district malaria office.

The health department at the municipal corporation is making sure to conduct fogging and spraying regularly and are also focusing on attacking the breeding spots so that there is no increase in the number of these insects.

“We make sure that spraying is done on weekly basis and fogging is done once in three weeks in various pockets of the city. Usually the mosquito menace goes down during the winter but if we come across any complaints we conduct special drives in those areas. Regular rounds are taken even in slum wherein people are asked not to store water for more than seven days. There are around 210 people who are on the field making sure to get rid of the breeding spots and even attacking the mosquitos,” said Dr. Ram Kendre, medical health officer at TMC.

The city based doctors stated that while they are currently not getting any cases of any mosquito-borne diseases, they might start getting patients once the temperature rises and the number of mosquitos increase even further. The doctors hence have advised citizens to take precautionary measures to keep mosquitos at bay and also to make sure there is no stagnant water which could be a breeding spot for the mosquitos.

“Even if the temperature rises a little, we start getting patients suffering from dengue, malaria, chickungunia etc. Anopheles mosquito, which causes malaria breeds on clean but flowing water bites during night. Aedes, which breeds on clean and still water bites during morning and Culex mosquitoes which causes Filariasis, also known as Elephant’s foot breeds on dirty water and bites during mid-night,” said Dr. Anjan Mangalvedhekar, general physician.

While the civic officials are up on their toes the citizens are doing their bit by performing home remedies to get rid of these insects.

We focus on destroying the breeding spots by spraying oil in the stagnant water which forms a layer and there is no oxygen left for mosquitos due to which they die. Also, in some water we release guppy fish in the water so that they eat the larvae