Mosquito Menace

The end of the monsoon does not mean the end of a public health threat. In fact, it often marks the beginning of another danger, as stagnant water and favourable breeding conditions across Dimapur, create an ideal environment for mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. In Dimapur alone, nearly 100 cases of dengue have reportedly been detected, a warning that the post-monsoon period must not be treated casually. Across India, dengue and chikungunya have made significant headway. Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected after feeding on a person carrying the virus and, after an incubation period, can transmit it to another person through its bite. India recorded 2,32,425 dengue cases in 2024, while the number fell to around 1,20,790 in 2025. The decline is encouraging, but it should not create complacency. Dengue commonly produces flu-like symptoms lasting two to seven days. Symptoms generally appear four to 10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. High fever, often reaching 40°C or 104°F, may be accompanied by severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, joint, bone or muscle pain and skin rashes. In severe cases, dengue can become life-threatening. There are four recognised dengue virus serotypes, DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. Infection with one serotype generally provides lifelong immunity against that particular serotype, but it does not protect against the others. A subsequent infection with a different serotype can, in some circumstances, increase the risk of severe dengue. There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue, and medical care is largely supportive. Patients are advised to rest and maintain adequate fluid intake. Paracetamol may be used for fever and pain, while aspirin and ibuprofen should generally be avoided because they can increase the risk of bleeding. Chikungunya is another mosquito-borne viral disease that has spread in several parts of the country. It causes fever and often severe joint pain, along with muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The World Health Organization has pointed out that chikungunya shares several clinical features with dengue and can therefore be misdiagnosed, particularly in areas where dengue is common. The possibility of viral mutation is another concern that cannot be ignored. Like mosquitoes that have developed resistance to pesticides, viruses can also undergo genetic changes that may affect their behaviour and the effectiveness of existing control measures. Researchers have identified mutations in dengue virus strains, reinforcing the need for continued surveillance and scientific research. However, the most effective weapon against dengue remains surprisingly simple. Deny the Aedes mosquito a place to breed. Stagnant water in discarded containers, tyres, drains, flower pots and construction sites provides precisely the environment mosquitoes need. This cannot be left to the health department alone. Civil and civic authorities, NGOs, colonies, wards and citizens must work together. Regular sanitation and cleanliness drives should become a routine public responsibility, not an emergency response after cases begin rising. Colonies and wards should ideally conduct monthly cleanliness drives from July through October, clearing stagnant water and eliminating potential breeding sites. Dengue and chikungunya are not merely medical problems. They are also failures of sanitation, civic vigilance and community responsibility. The mosquito is small, but the danger it carries is not.