Gulp! Indian State Fights Dengue with Fish
Date: 19-Sep-05
Country: INDIA
Dengue, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, has killed about 50 people and affected hundreds in the past few weeks in the eastern state of West Bengal where authorities are struggling to control the disease.
Health officials have released thousands of gambusia and guppies -- small, brightly coloured freshwater fish popular in home aquariums -- in ponds, lakes, wells and stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.
"Guppies eat mosquito larvae and help in checking the breeding rate of mosquitoes. These fish are being used successfully to fight dengue," said Prabhakar Chatterjee, West Bengal's medical services chief.
Dengue is marked by high fever, headache, rash and nausea, and if not treated in time can lead to death.
Health volunteers, medical students and voluntary organisations are distributing the fish.
"Gambusia is a cheap and easily available fish that can eat daily its own weight in mosquito larvae or pupae," said Amiya Hati, an expert in mosquito-borne diseases.
Authorities are encouraging the use of gambusia fish because mosquitoes have become resistant to many pesticides, such as DDT.