Rawalpindi : The rainfall in this region of the country has strengthened the fear of spread of dengue fever by creating more pockets for mosquitoes’ breeding and taking temperature down to a suitable level for growth of larvae of dengue fever vector including ‘aedes aegypti’ and ‘aedes albopictus’.
It is also alarming that the rainfall may spoil the larvicidal activity carried out by the district health departments recently as the rain spells make the chemicals including temephos granules and deltamethrin solution sprinkled on unnecessary water reservoirs to check growth of dengue fever vectors ineffective.
By creating more and more pockets for mosquitoes’ breeding, the recent rain would increase the risk of spread of dengue fever in the coming weeks if prompt action is not taken well in time both by the concerned government authorities and the individuals particularly to eliminate possible breeding sites of larvae of dengue vector ‘aedes aegypti’ from inside homes and offices and ‘aedes albopictus’ from outdoor hotspots.
Health experts say that the recent rain would provide water and moisture to the eggs of mosquitoes increasing the chances of growth of larvae and to avoid growth of dengue fever vector, immediate removal of water accumulation is needed. It is hardly possible for the district health departments to eliminate all the pockets containing water accumulation that are created in result of rain.
The rain may cause water accumulation on under construction sites, on rooftops in discarded cans and utensils. It is observed that the majority of our population does not give due attention to removal of these possible breeding sites that increase chances of growth of dengue fever vectors. Even the moist places developed due to rains may serve as suitable space for egg laying and hatching.
Experts say that people should not keep any type of containers including empty cans, caps of cold drinks, discarded utensils and toys of children in open as they may serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes if they contain water for three to four days.
It is important that the population in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been facing
severe dengue fever outbreaks for the last few years and according to health experts, the eggs of ‘aedes aegypti’ are in abundance in the region that would be hatched on getting moisture at favourable temperature.
They say that it is time for individuals to take measures religiously to eliminate all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes particularly inside and around their homes to prevent a possible outbreak of dengue fever.
