GVMC Goes Full Throttle Against Mosquito Menace

Visakhapatnam:To stop the outbreak of vector-borne diseases, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is employing drones to spray mosquito larvicidal oil on 64 non-drinking water bodies under its limits.

On top of this, the GVMC has released 8.5 lakh Gambusia fish in 210 drinking water bodies. Gambusia fish, also called mosquito fish, is recognised by the National Centre For Vector Borne Disease Control for stopping mosquito breeding in urban areas.

The municipal officials have taken these steps after learning from mistakes made in north Andhra Pradesh districts last year.

In 2023, Visakhapatnam recorded 734 dengue and 3,000 malaria cases. Similarly, Vizianagaram reported 266 malaria and 300 dengue cases, Srikakulam 269 malaria cases, Alluri Sitarama Raju had 3,000 malaria and 114 dengue cases and Parvathipuram Manyam had 382 malaria and 182 dengue cases.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle on Monday, malaria control officer, Visakhapatnam, Tulasi said her district recorded 14 malaria and 107 dengue cases in August this year.

GVMC's chief medical officer Naresh Kumar said, "We have identified a total of 64 non-drinking water bodies, and in those water bodies, ML (mosquito larvicidal) oil is being sprayed with the help of drones."

The GVMC has contracted a private drone company for spraying the oil. When sprayed on a water body, the oil spreads into a thin layer over the surface of the water. Mosquito larvae and pupae that breathe at the water's surface drown.

"Six litres of ML oil is sprayed in 1 acre, and till now, we have sprayed on 52 water bodies. In the next two-three days, 12 more water bodies will be completed," he added. Non-drinking water bodies are spread across 209 acres in the district.