Plant mosquitoes bedevil houses
Pollution adds to threat from germs, study finds
of bacteria from the phone to the human body is also being seen and that raises the concern that these indoor pollutants have to be controlled.”
While outdoor pollution is from vehicles, construction sites and industries, exposure within homes is equally toxic with mosquito coils and incense sticks.
Dr K. Subhakar explained, “These are kept at a very close distance and within a confined place in the home where the individual breathes it on a regular interval. Hence the exposure is not only to those who go outside but also to those who are living within. Once the infection develops, it exists there for a long time and develops into a full blown one only later. Hence the bacteria are slowly accumulating and growing in number.”
Senior microbiologist Dr R. Rajeshwari said, “Laboratory tests and recent experiments have shown that in the first line of antibiotic treatments during the first time, the bacteria are killed in good number. But there are still some of them who are hiding and they slowly grow in number. What was the reason for their growth? What was the agent for them to get stronger again? These questions were often asked but slowly they are being decoded.”
Experts state that the black carbon which is in the air alters the antibiotic tolerance and increases the resistance of bacteria which makes the medicine ineffective.
The study in published in the Journal of Environment and Microbiology. found that bacteria alter themselves and form new communities and protect themselves. infestations in bathrooms, near kitchen sinks and garbage dumps.
Apartments and colonies with garbage dumps close to their gates are finding it difficult to manage; residents say that no amount of fogging is killing the plant mosquitoes.
Rama Krishna, a senior citizen of Saket, explained, “The sewage drains are clogged and no desilting work has been carried out. Due to this, in the evening, we are finding a lot of mosquitoes in the area around the drains. It becomes difficult to come out of the homes at night as one is scared that a mosquito bite will cause diseases.”
Similarly, within homes, people are resorting to burning of mosquito coils, vapourisers and using paper pesticides.
Paediatrician Dr Karuna Madap explained, “These mosquitoes do not cause any diseases as they breed in dirty water. They do not carry any virus. But the burning of coils and papers at home can affect children and also senior citizens. Hence hygiene in surrounding areas must be maintained to reduce their number.”
“The quantity of urban garbage has led to the numbers of mosquitoes to swell increased more than 10 times this summer,” the doctor added.