Dengue causing larvae along with its predator found in Raj Bhavan

A KMC team led by Atin Ghosh and Debashis Biswas, chief vector control officer went to Raj Bhavan as a part of anti-larvae drive that has been carried out in the city. As a part of the drive, the KMC team is visiting state and central government offices, schools, private nursing homes and hospitals, residential buildings and housing complexes.

Ghosh said Aedes Aegypti was found in some bamboos that had been kept in one corner of Raj Bhavan. The rainwater which is accumulated in bamboos serves as mosquito breeding ground. The bamboos were removed. But interestingly, the larvae of Toxorhynchitis mosquito which function as antidote to dengue mosquitoes were found in Raj Bhavan.

Toxorhynchitis are also called Elephant mosquitoes or mosquito eater and is a cosmopolitan genus of mosquitoes. The adults survive on carbohydrate rich material such as honey dew. They also consume Aedes Aegypti larvae that cause dengue.

Environmentalists suggest reaping this variety of larvae where Dengue larvae are found. Ghosh said this variety of larvae was found for the first time in the city. He said along with the anti-larvae drive, the KMC was carrying on with its campaign programme. The KMC clinics and blood collection and dengue detection centres were working fine where people with fever were coming to examine blood. 

Not only are the examinations free, KMC also gives medicines to those afflicted with either dengue or malaria, free of cost. Ghosh said the awareness drives had been effective and people were visiting KMC clinics for blood examination and were consulting doctors for advice. Earlier, people avoided KMC clinics as medicines were given free of cost.