Tactfully tackling Mosquito genetic diseases.

Krishan Kumar Aggarwal

Mosquito facts

Dr K K Aggarwal

Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya and Filaria are mosquito borne diseases and are totally preventable. Here are a few tips:

1. Malaria is transmitted via the bite of a female Anopheles spp mosquito, which occurs mainly between dusk and dawn. Other comparatively rare mechanisms for transmission include: congenitally-acquired disease, blood transfusion, sharing of contaminated needles, and organ transplantation.

2. Dengue mosquito ( aedes) bites in the day time.

3. Dengue mosquito takes up to three meals in a day while malaria mosquito takes one meal in three days. Malaria may infect only one person in the family but dengue will invariably infect multiple members in the family in the same day.

4. Insecticide spraying, in response to dengue outbreaks, is not highly effective against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which frequently breed inside houses in fresh collected water.

5. Community-based approaches involving education of the population in efforts to reduce breeding sites, such as discarded tires and other containers that accumulate standing water, have shown some promise

6. Comprehensive community and governmental control strategy, including the seeding of water vessels with copepods that feed on mosquito larvae, is successful in eliminating A. aegypti and dengue transmission.

7. Malaria fever often presents with chills and rigors. If the fever presents with joint and muscle pains, one should suspect chikungunya.

8. One should not allow accumulation of water inside the house for more than a week. Mosquito cycle takes 7-12 days to complete and if any water collected utensils is rub cleaned properly once in a week, there are no chances of mosquito breeding.

9. In house collection can occur in money plant utensils; uncovered water tanks on the terrace; bird drinking pots; broken tyres, broken glasses, water coolers or any container where water can stay for seven days.

10. Using mosquito nets/repellents in the night may not prevent dengue the mosquito bites in day time. Wearing full sleeves shirt and trousers can prevent biting of the body.

11. Both malaria and dengue mosquito do not produce noise. Therefore, mosquitoes which produce noise do not cause diseases.

12. If you suspect that you are having fever which can be due to malaria and dengue, immediately report to the doctor.

13. There are no vaccines for malaria and dengue.

(Krishan Kumar Aggarwal )