Mosquitoes thrive amid BBMP's foggy vision

The government may have received a telling off for the pathetic state of the frothing Bellandur lake by the National Green Tribunal and told to clean it up in a month, but it is doing little to stop sewage from entering other lakes in and around the city or even to deweed them .

While the stench from these lakes is a put- off all through the year, come summer and the situation worsens as they become even bigger breeding grounds of mosquitoes than usual.

For people sweating it out under the hot sun in the city, swatting mosquitoes is an additional irritant in localities close to lakes and other polluted water bodies. The garbage heaps and open storm water drains are doing nothing to help the situation as they too are a beacon for mosquitoes that swirl around them in menacing clouds .

While the BBMP claims to be doing fogging regularly in all 198 wards of the city, this doesn’t seem to be helping to curb the population of these winged bearers of  diseases like malaria, chikungunya and dengue.Says Mr D.S. Rajashekar, president of Citizens' Action Forum, “The BBMP's fogging is just a sham. It is neither regular nor effective. Within an hour of fogging, you see mosquitoes returning in large numbers.We have brought this to its notice several times, but it doesn’t seem to care enough to check how effective the fogging is.”

The activist also accuses the BBMP of not doing enough to create awareness among people on measures they can take to curb the breeding of mosquitoes in their immediate surroundings.

Interestingly, members of the citizens’ group, Whitefield Rising, found in a recent survey of 40 apartments in their area that only one – which used a device emitting carbon-dioxide to attract mosquitoes and trap them - had succeeded in curbing their population in its surroundings.  The 39 other apartments, which did traditional fogging, saw no results at all .

“Clearly fogging by the BBMP is  not of any help in controlling the population of mosquitoes. Also the pollution caused by fogging is very high. On a scale of 500, the permitted pollution level is 150. But after fogging the pollution crosses 450 in some localities, which is very harmful,” says a member of Whitefield Rising, suggesting that the civic body should instead focus on de-weeding lakes and controlling the growth of mosquito larvae in water bodies.

Fogging won’t prevent mosquitoes from breeding, say irate residents
The BBMP appears to think it has done its bit to curb the mosquito menace stalking the city by merely doing fogging in all its neighbourhoods,whether residential or otherwise. "Except in the rainy reason we do fogging in all 198 wards of the city,” asserts Dr Naveen, deputy health officer, BBMP. But he admits that  it is doing less of it now as fogging can lead to respiratory disorders like asthma and lung diseases.    

“We are doing less of fogging, and even this is done only in the  evenings,” he says. But with the civic body remaining as inept as always in clearing the city of garbage and keeping its water bodies pollution- free, the people are  unwilling to accept that it is doing enough to control the population of mosquitoes that make them vulnerable to diseases like the dreaded dengue and malaria.

Those living close to water bodies like lakes and stormwater drains especially complain that buying  mosquito repellants and creams is burning a big hole in their pockets.

“If fogging can cause respiratory disorders like asthma, why isn't the BBMP taking steps to prevent mosquitoes from breeding? It should be clearing  garbage more effectively, and cleaning open tanks and lakes that are excellent breeding grounds for them,” says  Mr Muniraju T, a resident of Byatarayanapura.

Don’t panic if you get a fever but don’t neglect it either
Firoz Ahmad H Torgal Consultant- Emergency Medicine, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital
Dengue is caused by the Aedes egypti mosquito, a day biter, which breeds in fresh water  collected in ornamental pots in homes , in  indoor money-plant containers, broken pots, or even discarded cups. It also breeds in open water storage tanks, overhead tanks and sumps on construction sites. To prevent the mosquito from breeding ornamental pots should be drained out every week,  and overhead  and indoor water storage tanks shut tightly.

 It is also important to spot the symptoms of the disease early and take remedial measures immediately to prevent it from turning fatal. Early diagnosis of dengue is very important especially in people suffering from Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DS), which are the major causes of death. Early detection not only has an impact on patient treatment, but can also help in proper management and prevention of  complications.

While prevention of the disease is the best way to be safe, if you are infected, relax, and see a doctor as  less than one per cent of cases develop complications if proper care is taken. Normally, the monsoon season brings with it several kinds of viral infections and fevers. Most of them are largely harmless and abate after a week or so. However, the fever might well indicate dengue in some cases and so it is important to be always on guard against it. If the fever continues for more than three days and is accompanied by rashes on the body  and an intense headache, make sure to consult a doctor.

 As a precaution, I would advise people not to wear half sleeves and shorts during the monsoon. They must use mosquito repellant creams or nets at home and ensure there is no source of mosquito breeding in and around their houses or workplaces.

At the community level it is important to ensure that there is no water stagnating in containers, coolers, tyres and broken pots. In fact, half -broken tender coconuts randomly discarded are very good breeding grounds of mosquitoes.