Aedes-borne viral diseases (ABVD)

Aedes-borne viral diseases (ABVD) — dengue, Zika, and chikungunya — continue to hurt India’s productivity, posing both health and economic challenges.

Ineffective Outdoor Fumigation Persists

Despite evidence showing that outdoor fumigation is ineffective, local governments and communities continue to rely heavily on it. Notably, this method does not have backing from national health agencies as a routine measure.

Adaptive Behaviour of Aedes Mosquito

The Aedes mosquito has adapted remarkably to human environments, feeding indoors during the day and at night under artificial light. This makes traditional methods such as outdoor fumigation, vaporizers, and bed nets largely ineffective.

Top-Down Solutions and Their Limitations

Approaches like the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes—using naturally occurring bacteria to suppress mosquito populations or block disease transmission—show scientific promise. However, their high costs and weak institutional support hinder large-scale adoption.

Vaccines Still Limited

While dengue vaccine trials are underway, there is still no protection against Zika or chikungunya, leaving large gaps in prevention strategies.

Focus on Personal Protection and Community Mobilisation

Experts emphasise that the most effective current strategies involve personal protection and community mobilisation, rather than attempts to eliminate mosquitoes outright. Traditional pyrethroid-based vaporizers are increasingly ineffective, as Aedes activity peaks outside nighttime hours and mosquitoes are evolving chemical tolerance.

Shift Towards Protection-Oriented Strategies

Health specialists stress that a sustainable strategy should focus on protecting people from mosquito bites rather than relying solely on chemical eradication methods.

(Source: TH)