Destroy eggs, larvae, be free of dengue

The best way to eradicate dengue is to target the disease-carrying mosquitoes at the egg and larvae stage.

PETALING JAYA: The best way to prevent dengue is to go to the source and destroy the eggs and larvae of the aedes mosquito, according to a scientist.

Epidemiology and Biostatistics expert Dr Helmi Hazmi said fogging would only kill mosquitoes and was not effective against the larvae and eggs.

“The chemical will not destroy the aedes aegypti’s eggs. Even though fogging is effective at the initial stage, it is not sustainable,” Dr Helmi said in the Malaysian Medical Gazette.

He said in the absence of an effective treatment or vaccine, the only way to stop the spread of the disease was to eliminate the source.

He added that several biotechnological companies had come up with solutions using bioinsecticides which targeted the mosquito larvae and eggs in the water.

“One form of bioinsecticide uses a soil bacterium called bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) which is environment-friendly and safe for humans, plants and animals,” said Dr Helmi.

He said since BTI could only be used to eradicate mosquito larvae and eggs, biotech companies had zeroed in on its capabilities.

Dr Helmi said this larvicide would prevent the larvae from metamorphosing into adults, which would help to reduce the endemic that was sweeping the nation.