Biological solution: With dengue toll crossing 2,100, govt decides to throw Guppy fish into water

The Guppy fish are known to eat the larvae of the dengue mosquitoes.

KARACHI: As the number of dengue patients crosses 2,100 on Tuesday in Karachi, the Sindh government decided to throw Guppy fish in stagnant water bodies in six areas of the city.

"The biological solution is not as harmful as the chemical one," explained Sindh health secretary Ikramullah Dharejo. "We need a modest approach." All water bodies in North Karachi, Baldia Town, North Nazimabad, Orangi Town, Korangi Town and Gulistan-e-Jauhar will have guppy fish to clean the water.



According to the Dengue Surveillance Cell, the number of dengue patients in Karachi reached 2,144 on Tuesday. Alarmed by the drastic rise, commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui held a meeting with officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the health department and deputy commissioners of all city districts at Commissioner House.

"Throw Guppy fish wherever it is required, including graveyards," Siddiqui directed the officials. "We need immediate action." He also directed his deputies to take legal action against tyre shop owners if they create hurdles in the drive. "It is a public health issue and we can't tolerate anything in this way."

The officials will report regularly to health and city government officials on the areas being targeted. "We have to work as a team," the health secretary said. "We have to ensure that the issue could be controlled in the coming days."

While talking to The Express Tribune, Dharejo pointed out that unplanned growth in the city was one of the main reasons behind the dengue mosquitoes. "We don't have decomposition plants in the city and there are heaps of garbage in several areas," he added. "The officials of the KMC are taking efforts according to available capacity." The rapidly increasing population was another reason behind the rise in the number of patients, he explained, adding that Karachi was an ideal location for dengue mosquitoes due to its weather.

The officials of aquarium department briefed Siddiqui and Dharejo that the fish will eat the larvae of the dengue mosquitoes, adding that targeting breeding grounds of the mosquitoes was the most effective way to control the dengue fever. "We have already started throwing Guppy fish in some areas but the official drive will start from Wednesday (today)," said an official of the KMC, Muhammad Ismail Shakir. He informed The Express Tribune that five to 10 fish - depending on the areas and presence of mosquitoes - will be dropped in water bodies, including water tanks and nurseries. "It is a very effective initiative and it has been successful in several countries."

During the meeting, the officials were informed that Guppy fish was even effective in dirty water. "We have to ensure its presence even in the graveyards of DHA and Clifton."

Dharejo said that dengue mosquitoes breed when the temperature remains above 26 centigrade. "Karachi's weather is still hot," he pointed out. The health officials along with the municipal administration were taking efforts in other parts of the province, including Hyderabad. "Our focus is on Karachi right now. The condition in other areas is under control."

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2013.