The Hindu : Front Page : Chennai Corporation battling mosquitoes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 01, 2007
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Chennai Corporation battling mosquitoes

Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI: Chennai's civic body is battling the uncontrollable breeding of mosquitoes in waterways and stagnant pools.

On Wednesday, the Corporation's Health department workers went around lanes and canals with spray guns. A survey indicated a mosquito density of 117 per 10 man hours (the number of mosquitoes trapped in a particular area over 10 hours) and a larval density of 42 per positive dip (a single collection in a breeding area). Contrast this with the `norm' — 50-80 for mosquitoes and below 5 for larvae. North Chennai is the worst affected. In Zone 3, Pulianthope, the highest mosquito density was recorded in the city — 275 per 10 man hours. Zone 1, Tondiarpet, came next with a density of 159 and Zone 6, Triplicane, came third with 128. In the waterways of Pulianthope the count was 85 per positive dip, 17 times the normal level. Zone 4, Ayanavaram, recorded 75 and Triplicane, 73.

The only way to beat it is to have a regular three-day intensive spraying and fogging campaign every week, says P. Kuganantham, health officer.

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