Sundargarh: Gambusia Fish Tanks Set up in 17 Blocks to Control Malaria

Rourkela: In a bid to fight malaria carrying mosquitoes, the Sundargarh administration has set up Gambusia fish tanks in 17 blocks to prevent malaria in the district.

Gambusia fish has played a major role in Malaria control at Sundargarh district.

With regular awareness programmes, frequent DDT spraying and rapid testing in villages, Sundargarh has ensured zero casualty due to malaria this year, said Sundargarh Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan.

One fish tank each has been setup in 17 blocks and Sundargarh and Rourkela to breed the fish. The fish is being use to suppress mosquitoes in water bodies and other swamps.
As many as 19 fish tanks have been built in the district with support from OMBADC.

Gambusia fish can adapt to wide variations in temperature as well as to chemical and organic content of the water but does not tolerate very high organic pollution.

The optimum temperature for reproduction ranges from 240C to 340C but the fish can survive at freezing temperatures.

The fish frequent areas especially suitable for the mosquito larvae. It lives and multiplies in ponds stocked with larger fish provided the pond is shallow and has protective vegetation for refuge.

A single full grown fish eats about 100 to 300 mosquito larvae per day, according to experts.