The Aedes MosquitoAn intelligent, cunning and deadly creature

Is it present in Tamil Nadu?

Yes

Why?It transmits

• Dengue fever – deadly killer of mankind particularly children

• Chikungunya - a crippling fever

Vector, disease and susceptible host are

availableVector Aedes Mosquito

Disease agent

Dengue virus

Host Mostly Children

Characteristics of theAedes Mosquito

It bites during the day

It lays its eggs in clean, shady, stagnant water

One distinct physical feature – black and white strips on its body and legs-Hence called “Tiger Mosquitoes”

Vector BionomicsEggs withstand desiccation for years

Flight range is mostly < ½ km

Day biting mosquito (Early morning and late afternoon)

Longevity - about 3 weeks

Vector BionomicsAmbient temperature for breeding 16°C to 40°C

Indoor - rests in dark and cool places

Out door - shady places

High humidity and High temperature enhance the vectorial capacity

Man made Aedes farms

• Water storage tank or cistern

• Drums• Flower vase filled

with water• Potted plants with

saucers• Roof gutters

• Discarded food and drink containers

• Used tyres• Discarded large

appliances• Discarded buckets• Rubber collection

shells

Man made Aedes farms

• Animal water container

• Air coolers• Water coolers• Discarded tins• Window gutters

• Tender cocunut shells

• Plastic covers used for covering fruits in the trees

• Air conditioners

Huge breeding source

Tyres every where

Tyres in a residential locality

Inviting the enemy

Concrete mixer quietly parked on the street

Intelligent enemy using the spilled water for

breeding

Intelligent enemy using the water on the manhole cover

for breeding

Roof gutters

Plastic Containers- ideal artificial container

Aedes breeding as a consequence of disrupted water supply in a student

hostel

Rain water collected for Head Bath stored for a long time breeds the

enemy

All in one place

Opening the door for the enemy

Devil safe behind the God

Enemy in Coconut shells

Clean water for the enemy

Sappotta fruits and the enemy

Flower Pots in an otherwise safe house

Tyres behind a house in which a child died due to

dengue fever

Tree holes

Tree hole harbouring Aedes

Plantain leaf axil

Most Dangerous Categories of Aedes

• Aedes born in tyres and unused containers- these mosquitoes are born with dengue virus and infective from birth (transovarian transmission)

• Hospital/clinic aedes• Entertainment Aedes

– Aedes in cinema theatres– Parks– Theme parks

Most Dangerous Categories of Aedes

• School going, college going Aedes

• Aedes staying in hostels, hotels, guest houses

• Market Aedes• Aedes attending marriages and

functions• Aedes in Bus-stands, Railway

stations, airports and seaports

Aedes in a theme park

Factors favouring Aedes breeding

Inadequate water supplyEngineering defectsWide use of non-biodegradable materialsImproper disposal of solid wastesInadequate attention on awareness generation among public

Appears to be complex problem- but solutions are

simpler

Keep the unused grinder stone upside down – Encourage to use

as a sitting stone

Discarding the water by tilting the container

Lock the concrete mixer in upside down position after

work

Trained eyes searching for the enemy

Eureka

Covered with cloth

Used tyres collection campaign

All breeding sources inside the are eliminated

All plastic wastes are removed

Tyre removal campaign

Beware of hospitals

•Hospitals may pool infection from all over and act as epicentre

• Inside and outside of the hospitals should be free from Aedes

Fogging into residences infested with the enemy

Fogging and source reduction in and around

cinema halls before matinee show will

interrupt transmission

Mass Cleaning Drive