Curb dengue menace

The dengue menace has everyone talking about taking safety measures; and like most things, here too, safety begins at home. Dr Chelmala Srinivasulu, assistant professor of Zoology, Osmania University shares a few pointers on the little things you could do to ensure your home is not a breeding ground for dengue.

1Dengue is spread by the mosquito aedes aegypti, which breeds in fresh stagnant water. In homes, the usual areas for this mosquito to breed could be in the kitchen, in the utensil cleaning area, bathrooms where water has accumulated, flower pots with excess water etc. For people who have gardens, it can also be in spots where rainwater has accumulated. Also, keep a check on the water puddles created due to excess watering of plants.

2 Make sure there is no fresh water stagnation in the house. Unused plastic water bottles should be thrown, keep a check on your ac unit as well, make sure the water is not leaking.

3 A common misconception is that mosquitoes usually come into your home in the evening. But this mosquito is actually active during the daytime. So it is advisable to keep mosquito repellent machines switched on throughout the day. Also ensure that sufficient sunlight comes into your home during the day.

4 For people who have water bodies inside their homes for feng shui or vaastu purposes, need to check the water regularly and have it replaced or cleaned. The best advice is to drain the water at such places during this season when dengue is prevalent.