Mosquitoes bother again

S Neken Singh *

Crises move the government to work. Problems wake the people up for attention. Normally, we remain napping the whole year. The blockade-effects have recently compelled the government to pay attention to improvement of NH-53. River banks are not checked and repaired, unless floods occur.

Mosquitoes are not chased in the absence of malaria outbreak as AIDS is always alarming only on first December. Importance of Helmets is felt only during observance of Road Safety weeks. Face Masks are worn only when there are news of SARS and swine flu. Each and every human welfare programme is short-lived in Manipur.

Japanese Encephalitis has revisited and put new assignments to the Mosquito chaser offices of the government. After Swine flu, it has started scaring us again. Of course, Mosquito borne diseases commonly visit during June, July and August every year. All would have surely begun chasing mosquitoes.

Besides the general people, the various sections of health department are always caught napping with the visit of epidemics time and again. Bird flu had bothered the state veterinary department some years back as thousands of innocent chickens were slaughtered in nook and corner of the state. Swine flu too caused hardships to the medical men who had to be on alert in gate-ways of the state for 24 hours a day.

This time, state malaria department is on war against mosquitoes. New pamphlets and messages will begin appearing in streets and villages. Fogging machines will now be on heavy schedule. It is obvious that the concerned officials and offices are not always alert about their normal duties, unless the diseases and epidemics raise their ugly heads.

A mosquito pic of JE carrier Photo: The Sangai Express

Thanks to the different visiting epidemics for they make the government officials and departments concerned to wake up from napping on the desk. Obviously, unless the different diseases do occur, the offices normally do not work at all. Mosquitoes are chased only when malaria and encephalitis are in the news. Does the Malaria department normally remember that mosquitoes are disease-borne and need to be killed ? Are not people scared of mosquitoes, unless Japanese encephalitis knocks the door ?

The Information, Education and Communication aspect of the various health programmes of the state may be presumed as totally failed due to its inability to inform the people regularly on the various causes and preventive ways of diseases. Even after a fortnight of suspicion of the epidemic, no government agency has ever published or broadcast preventive messages of Japanese encephalitis in the media.

Some rare cases of Fogging and spraying germicide are heard in selected areas. Action is too delayed to be able to counter the onslaught of the epidemic. Warriors need to be swifter than the virus. Moreover, the general people should not waste time awaiting the government response. It is everyone's responsibility to save ones life from the deadly disease.

Japanese encephalitis is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It infects the brain and nervous system. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on domestic pigs and wild birds infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus. Infected mosquitoes then transmit the virus to humans and animals during the feeding process. The Japanese encephalitis virus is amplified in the blood systems of domestic pigs and wild birds.

Fortunately, Japanese encephalitis virus is not transmitted from person-to-person via touching or kissing or from a health care worker who has treated someone with the disease. Only domestic pigs and wild birds are carriers of the Japanese encephalitis virus. Mild infections occur without apparent symptoms other than fever with headache.

JE may spread from pigs to the mosquitoe, the chief carrier and medicine which is now in stock Photo: The Sangai Express

More severe infection is marked by quick onset, headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, occasional convulsions (especially in infants) and spastic (but rarely flaccid) paralysis. The incubation period of the disease is usually 5 to 15 days.

Although immunization is the best means to prevent Japanese Encephalitis, preventive measures against the disease are mainly to avoid mosquito bites. We need to wear appropriate clothing by minimizing areas of exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, boots, and hats.

Tucking in shirts and wearing socks and closed shoes instead of sandals may reduce risk. All standing water around home should be properly drained. Buckets, birdbaths, flowerpots and tire swings need to be swept out as these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Bed nets are essential to provide protection and to reduce discomfort caused by biting insects. If bed nets do not reach the floor, they should be tucked under mattresses. Bed nets are most effective when they are treated with an insecticide or repellent. Aerosol insecticides, vaporizing mats and mosquito coils can help to clear rooms or areas of mosquitoes. Insecticides however should always be used with caution, avoiding direct inhalation of spray or smoke.

Improper drainages in almost all localities of the state has facilitated the hatching of mosquitoes. The long abandoned pitch dug for Sewerage projects in Imphal areas also promotes mosquito eggs. Forest, Fishery and Sericulture departments also need to tie-up for exploring fishes and insects consuming eggs of mosquitoes.

Manipur where piggery is taken up as a small family business in almost all localities excepting Muslim community need to raise advanced precautionary measures for protection against the spread of Japanese encephalitis. Local clubs should play a big role to generate awareness to piggery owners and their neighbors. Mosquitoes need to be cleared by way of emptying stocked water and drainages. Fogging and spraying insecticides in collaboration with concerned government departments are the need of the hour.

As most superior among species, human beings exploit the animals and plants to reap comforts as much as possible and the animals simply follow the humans. But there are situations appearing to be revengeful, when animals and insects spread deadly ailments which put the mankind in great distress. After SARS, Bird Flu and Swine flu, now Japanese Encephalitis has awaken us. Let us sleep no more. It is time to chase the mosquitoes.

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* S Neken Singh wrote this article for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This article was webcasted on July 22 2010.

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