Rains create pockets for mosquitoes breeding

Islamabad:The recent rain spell would help create possible breeding sites for larvae of mosquitoes that may put the population here in this region of the country at risk of facing an outbreak of dengue fever in the coming weeks while causing spread of malaria as well.

It is important that the mercury level in most parts of the country including the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi has started registering a sharp rise that has made the environment favourable for breeding of mosquitoes including ‘aedes aegypti’, the vector that causes dengue fever. Health experts believe that to avoid incidences of dengue fever and malaria, proper action both by the concerned government authorities and individuals is needed at the time.

The recent rains would help create more pockets inside and outside homes for mosquitoes’ breeding. After the rain, there are greater chances of creation of unnecessary water accumulation on under construction sites, on rooftops in discarded cans and like utensils that may help larval growth.

Experts say that the temperature is getting suitable for hatching of mosquitoes’ eggs and larval growth. The best option at the time to avoid incidences of malaria and dengue fever is to take preventive measures including elimination of possible breeding sites inside and outside homes.

It is important that the population in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi faced one of the worst dengue fever outbreaks last year with reports of over 10000 patients and 11 deaths. It hints that the eggs of mosquitoes ‘aedes aegypti’ would have been in abundance in the region and these would be hatched on getting moisture at favourable temperature.

Experts say that the eggs laid down by mosquitoes months back would start hatching at the time and the unchecked larval growth would result in greater density of mosquitoes. The recent rains would provide water to the eggs of mosquitoes increasing the chances of growth of larvae and to avoid it, immediate removal of water accumulation is needed.

It is worth mentioning here that if the individuals do not give proper attention to the elimination of possible breeding sites of mosquitoes inside homes and offices at the time, there would be a greater density of dengue fever and malaria vectors in the coming days. People must be aware of the fact that only by elimination of possible breeding sites of mosquitoes from inside homes and offices, the chances of a possible outbreak of dengue fever can be reduced to a significant extent.

It is important that the district health authorities in the region have already started field activities to check breeding of mosquitoes but to make preventive measures effective, individuals would have to play a vital role.