MOSQUITOES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5064, 13 December 1926, Page 2

MOSQUITOES

DEALING WITH THESE INSECTS.

PUBLIC HEALTH SUGGESTIONS.

As the season for mosquitoes, which are often the carriers of certain diseases and the caus,e df sickness o’f various'types and severity, depending partly oil the. susceptibility of the individual attacked and the previous lodging place of the insect:, such sickness ranging from mere temporary discomfort to the severest forms of blood poisoning, is; at hand, the Department of Public Health urges up°n all local authorities, their officers, aind the general public the necessity for taking steps to destroy these insects and eliminate their breedeng grounds. As is, well kndwn, these insects breed largely in stagnant water, present in swamps, pools, ponds, puddles, uneven or blocked eaves guttering, empty tins, broken bottles, broken china vessels, or vessels of various sorts, which, carelessly left about, collect rain,; o'r drinking troughs for fowls, etc., when the water is not changed frequently, and these breeding grounds can be and sjhould bepromptly dealt with.. Swamp should be drained, pools, ponds, and puddles filled in, and all empty tins and broken glass or other vessels: removed, destroyed, or, buried. Where it is not practicable to drain or fiU in stagnant water-holes of various sorts the water therein should be treated with kerosene or other light innocuous, oil. Open rainwater tanks are a common breeding place, and these should be provided with a proper covey and all inleta protected with fine gause: otherwise a small quantity of kerosene should be run 6n top of the water. This, will float on the surface, and will not affect its taste or wholesbmeness, as the water from tanks is usjualHy drawn from a tap or outlet pipe from the bottom of the tank, or if pumped the suction pipe must necessarily be well beneath the surface.

Mosquitoes shelter in day-time in dense foliage. Therefore creeper around verandahs and heavily leaved shrubs, ete-, in close proximity to a house encourage these pfists, and it is advisable in mosquito infested areas to reduce such harbourage to a minimum, or preferably do away with it altogether. If these points are given proper attention trouble from mosquitoes, will be practically eliminated, with accompanying increased comfort and healthfulness to the population.

In tropical countries, or places where, mosquitteies are excessively prevalent, houses s,hould be protected by covering in all verandahs, windows, hjnd other openings with fine copper wire gauze but there are few places in New ZealanZl where such would be necessary, and the preceding precautions should be sufficient, for practical purposes. In houses or buildings where mosquitoes; have gained admittance these insects may be killed or relief obtained by the use of sprays of the various fly and insect killers, bf which there are mapy forms obtainable.

Where t>he insects are not readily abolished, 'for instance in houses situated in the bush, if it, is not practicable to render the whole house mosquito-proof by wire' gauze, protection can be obtained at night by the use of mosquit.o nfits over, the beds. These should be supported by frames or suspended from the ceiling and carefully tucked in unfier the mattresses, or care otherwise used so thajt no opening is left for the- ingress of the insect. . Sections 26, 27, and 28 of the Health Act, 1920, give power to local authorities to deal with elimination of mosquitoes by the, abatement o’f nuisances which cause breeding grounds or. harbourage. The by-laws; off most local authorities also assist in this connection, and should be rigidly enforced. These could be still further strengthened by addition'afl specific clauses, dealing with mosquito prevention.

The Medical Officer o'f Health therefore recommends all local authorities to institute a campaign against the mosquito, and instructs his inspectors to make, house to house inspections and cause a general clean-up o'f all tins, broken bottles, etc., to remedy all defecta, as; indicated above, which are likely to form breeding grounds for these dangerous insects.