Mosquitofish let out to deal with dengue
Print Edition
AUTHORITIES in the southern city of Guangzhou are fighting mosquito-borne dengue by releasing about 28 million mosquitofish into rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
The Guangzhou Water Bureau said the fish, released in more than 1.73 million square meters of waters, cost nearly 920,000 yuan (US$150,221.25), the New Express Daily reported yesterday.
One mosquitofish can gobble up nearly 200 mosquito larvae in a night, which can help in effectively controlling the number of mosquitoes. But the fish are also known to harm indigenous species and critics fear its introduction will disturb the environmental balance.
But experts at the bureau have ruled out any such risks.
Originally from North America, the fish was introduced in Philippines in 1924. They have been seen in Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta for more than 10 years, meaning they are not an invasive species, the paper reported.
The Yangcheng Evening News quoted some experts as saying that if authorities fail to control the number of mosquitofish, it will kill the native species.
The best method to prevent and control dengue is to improve the overall environment, said Li Yanliang, chairman of the National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association.
It was not the first time that Guangzhou turned to mosquitofish to solve the problem of dengue.
Since 1974, Guangzhou residents, on advice from health authorities, have released mosquitofish in abandoned wells, ditches and air-raid shelters.
In 2006, more than 5,000 fish were released in local parks to prevent the spread of the disease.
Guangzhou has seen a surge in dengue cases since September, with over 27,000 reported cases and five fatalities.
Health authorities have also tried other methods to deal with the menace of mosquitoes, including installing 190,000 anti-mosquito boards and using 390,000 packs of larvicidal drugs, said Chen Hanwei, a deputy section chief of the Guangzhou urban management committee.
The city has also sought help from the fire brigade to spray insecticide around the city.
The campaign against mosquitoes will continue till the end of November.
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