ZSI to form task force to tackle dengue

Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) will constitute a task force that will chalk out an action plan on prevention of vector-borne diseases such as dengue in Kolkata.

The decision was announced after the Chairman of West Bengal Biodiversity Board A.K. Sanyal urged ZSI director Kailash Chandra on Monday to form a task force for an in-depth study on dengue mosquitoes — its ecology, biology and identification.

"The biology of dengue causing mosquitoes in Dum Dum in Kolkata is not same as one in Gujarat because of the contrasting climatic and weather conditions. Control measures need to be formulated based on certain factors. Scientists should come up with applicable, rationale and people-friendly methods of preventing dengue so that people or organizations can follow such measures on their own," Sanyal said at the 12th National Conference on Vector Borne and Zoonotic Disease : Identification to Management organised by ZSI.

Sanyal stressed on identifying areas where there are a greater number of mosquitoes that can cause vector-borne diseases and accordingly regulate the spraying of larvicide in that area. "We will form a task force that will come out with an action plan of curbing vector-borne diseases in the city. We will submit the action plan along with our recommendations to the state government," Chandra said.

He added that ZSI has already started surveillance programme and sample collection of mosquitoes responsible for causing vector-borne diseases in Kolkata.

Sanyal in his address also pointed out the lack of awareness regarding other vectorborne disease such as scrub typhus among the people of the state. The disease caused by an insect bite have recently proved fatal for two persons in the state including a lady . " In scrub typhus, the wound is visible and the affected place become black but people hardly have any awareness, " he pointed out.

ZSI in association with a herbal company BioGuard Eco Solutions launched a product 'Herbomosqucide' that not only kills but repels dengue causing mosquitoes.

"The product is 100 percent herbal made from a mix of two plants eucalyptus and pine along with some other combinations. It inhibits the larval growth of mosquitoes and kills it," said D.S. Suman, ZSI scientist who along with his team is working in the area of vector control and disease management. .

The eco-friendly product kills mosquito larvae of dengue, chikungunya, zika, malaria, Japanese Encephalitis and Filaria. " We are soon going to patent it'," Chandra said.