Novel approach: Punjab turns to fish to combat dengue

Releases mosquito-eating fish into ponds, puddles, rivers, and other potential breeding spots

LAHORE: Pakistan appears to be in the throes of a dengue epidemic and in the absence of a coherent nation-wide policy to combat the disease, each province is left with no choice but to come up with its own playbook.

The Punjab government, adopting a rather novel approach, has conscripted a small fish best known as a symbol of rebirth in ancient Egyptian art to fight its battle against the deadly mosquito-borne virus.

The province’s fisheries department plans to turn the tide against the Dengue virus with the help of Tilapia fish, which is known to eat mosquitos that spread the disease.

To combat the lethal disease spread by mosquito bites, the department has released an army of 24, 00,000 Tilapia fish into ponds, puddles, rivers, and other potential breeding places.

Dengue awareness seminar held

“We have released 24, 00,000 Tilapia fish in various ponds and rivers across the province to combat Dengue,” said Dr Amjad Rashid, who heads the department of fisheries.

In its campaign against the spread of Dengue fever, the province has experimented with several tactics, including Guppy fish, which like, Tilapia, is known for eating mosquito larvae.

“The use of fish to combat the spread of Dengue has been very successful,” claimed Assistant Director and Spokesperson of Punjab Fisheries, Mian Ghulam Qadir, who owns a fish farm.

Experts believe the release of Tilapia fish into water reservoirs and rivers will help beat back the disease, which by recent estimates is surging across the country.

As of Wednesday, the number of Dengue cases in the province has climbed to 4,291, with eight new cases reported last week.

According to a joint report prepared by the Asian Development Bank and the World Health Organization, the release of Guppy fish in a water storage tank on the community level can result in the reduction of mosquitoes.

Authorities to target schools for dengue awareness

While authorities in the province are placing Tilapia fish on the frontline in the battle against Dengue, global research on the effectiveness of employing fish to eat mosquitoes remains split. The fish is known to eat mosquitoes, but the insects are not their favourite food. To keep the mosquitoes at bay, Punjab’s fisheries department, which runs hatcheries to breed the vast quantities of fish seed, plans to release its latest weapon wherever possible.

“This year, we are prepared to fight Dengue. All civil and government institutions can get the mosquito-eating fish from our hatcheries,” said Mian Ghulam Qadir, who is the spokesperson for Punjab fisheries.

The dengue virus, which is carried by Aedes mosquitoes, can cause extreme fever, headaches, and muscle and joint pain in people who have the infection. With adequate and timely treatment, death is preventable.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2019.