Dengue larvae in domestic wells

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The latest entomological studies conducted by health authorities reveal that dengue mosquitoes breed in drinking water wells located at homes countrywide. The Health Ministry appeals to the public to inspect their wells regularly and put tiny local fish in them to prevent dengue mosquito breeding, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the entomological studies examined around 9,000 drinking water wells located at Eravur and found dengue mosquito larvae in 2,000 of them.

Usually the dengue mosquitoes do not breed in deep water but now they have changed their breeding habits and breed in deep water as well. They normally breed in clean water but now dengue mosquitoes breed in unclean water too. During past two weeks Eravur in the Batticaloa district was hit by dengue fever badly and over 450 dengue cases detected in the area during past two weeks.

The population of Eravur is around 40,000. The inspection teams found many tyre shops in Batticaloa district had dengue mosquito larvae inside their old tyres on display. The tyre shops put old tyres on display after wrapping them with new tyre wrappers which provides an ideal environment for dengue mosquitoes to breed, he said. Health authorities held a special discussion at Eravur and made arrangements to deploy 30 teams comprising 450 personnel to inspect dengue mosquito breeding places and raise awareness among the public.

Around three police officers are to be deployed with each team. A total of 100 police officers will be deployed.

The programme is to be held in the next three days. Health authorities released local fish named 'guppi' to wells at Eravur to destroy dengue mosquito larvae. The main objective of the programme is to prevent dengue becoming an epidemic in Eravur, he added.