A Fish to Control Malaria, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Gambusia Affinis Halbrooki, a three-inch fish, can effectively control malaria by consuming larvae of Anopheles Stephensi mosquitoes.
• A two-year study in Hyderabad demonstrated the successful use of Gambusia fish in controlling malaria.
• Releasing Gambusia in 3,800 wells in Hyderabad reduced mosquito larvae density by half immediately.
• The cost of controlling malaria using Gambusia in wells was only ₹15 a month.

Detailed Insights:

• The experiment in Hyderabad, conducted by Dr. N. L. Sitaraman, Dr. M. A. Karim, and Dr. G. Venkata Reddy, could change the strategy of the National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP).
• Anopheles Stephensi is a primary vector for transmitting malaria in urban areas, making the control of its larvae crucial.
• Maintaining wells free of mosquito breeding through the introduction of Gambusia resulted in consistently low or nil malaria cases.
• Gambusia's effectiveness stems from its voracious appetite for mosquito larvae, disrupting the mosquito life cycle.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Larvae: The immature, wingless form of an insect that hatches from an egg.
• Anopheles Stephensi: A species of mosquito known for transmitting malaria, particularly in urban environments.
• Vector: An organism that transmits diseases or parasites from one animal or plant to another.