Reading about the Aedes mosquito on Wikipedia revealed some interesting facts about its breeding habits.
The mosquito's preferred breeding areas are in areas of stagnant water, such as flower vases, uncovered barrels, buckets, and discarded tires, but the most dangerous areas are wet shower floors and toilet tanks, as they allow the mosquitos to breed in the residence. Research has shown that certain chemicals emanating from bacteria in water containers stimulate the female mosquitoes to lay their eggs. They are particularly motivated to lay eggs in water containers that have the correct amounts of specific fatty acids associated with bacteria involved in the degradation of leaves and other organic matter in water. The chemicals associated with the microbial stew are far more stimulating to discerning female mosquitoes than plain water, for example, or filtered water in which the bacteria once lived.
What an eye opener!!! I presume this microbial stew of fatty acids applies to all mosquitoes and I am no longer surprised as to why Embun is plagued with mosquitoes any time of the day. For surrounding us is the perpetual microbial stew, brewing in the drains around our home. I have written about this plight and highlighted the authorities and developer but no action taken. What we need is for these prohibitive drain covers to be removed permanently. The design of our drains facilitate a mosquito breeding ground, easy access to mosquitos to go in, breed and hide, and resurface again for their most active hours.
I say prohibitive because it prohibits cleaning and clearing of organic debris that pours easily into the drains and clogs it up, fermenting a potent stew directly attracting mosquitoes to breed.
No doubt some parts of the drainage system is clear of debris, only because it's all been washed to a clog point. But where it's clear of debris, water stagnates in a dam.
It seems we need a dengue death to make the council and others take action and do what is needed. The Health Ministry can conduct campaign after campaign educating the rakyat on how to keep this menace at bay. But is the Ministry educating and enforcing the local council to do their job? The rakyat can keep their immediate compounds clean but in this drain issue, our hands are completely tied for there is nothing and no way we can lift these drain covers on our own.
I pray help arrives before someone pays with his life. Meanwhile the media continues to highlight just how serious the situation is becoming.
A (H1N1) under control, dengue cases on the rise
