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Mosquitoes may bring India on its Knees

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None of our clever politicians and planners could have thought that a burgeoning swarm of mosquitoes could change the course of emerging India and humble us. While children are dying like flies in and around Gorakhpur from the annual post-monsoon wave of mosquito borne encephalitis that year-after-year we promise to stem but never seem to be able to achieve, hospitals of the national capital are being deluged by dengue victims. Our financial capital, Mumbai, especially in its southern part where the rich and mighty live, is also being swamped with malaria, serving as a harsh reminder of our human vulnerability.
Of the several problems threatening the forthcoming Commonwealth games, mosquitoes and threat of diseases caused by them are emerging as key factors to keep international players and fans away.
There are 3 types of mosquitoes spreading diseases: Anopheles, the night biter spreading malaria, Aedes, the striped day time stinger spreading Dengue, and Culex transmitting encephalitis with its twilight stings. While we may not have much of an a la carte option to choose which of them to be stung by, mobilizing steps to protect ourselves from these deadly animals is the call of the hour.
Mosquitoes, as we all know, are breeding in the stagnant waters on the roadside, in water-clogged construction sites, in air-coolers in our windows, in tins and tyres left  in uncleared bins, in choked drains, in waterlogged paddy fields and most importantly, in polythene bags lying around in heaps in our neighbourhood. Students of Jaipuria School have taken an examplary initiative to not only ban and shun use of polythene bags themselves but to reach out to shops and local residents to do so as well. If sustained and encouraged, it can make a major health impact in the Gomti Nagar area for a start.
While most advertisements from mosquito-repellent manufacturers seem to appeal to our fears and focus on individal protection, it is more prudent to tackle the problem at the community level. Mosquitoes can fly for only around 400 metres. Hence keeping our neighbourhoods clean and dry is the crux. And if stagnant water is not possible to remove, pouring kerose kills the mosquito larve waiting there to take wings and strike.
During dengue epidemics, schools and offices have a special role to play as lethal stings occur in the daytime when people are at study or work. Apart from keeping the premises dry and clean, spraying mosquitoe repellents in room corners, under tables and in toilets, it is judicious to encourage children and staff to wear full -sleeved shirts and socks as the quill of Aedes is short and does not traverse a layer of cloth.
Mosquitoes have changed the course of history from time to time; by delaying the construction of Suez and Panama canals, to devastating populations in Indonesia and Kenya. Our CWG organizers should not underestimate the importance of mosquitoes as they may put a spanner in our preparartions next month.
 As published on HT City ( Hindustan Times) dated 13 september , 2010.
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