THERMAL FOGGING IS A WASTE OF TIME

by Marlon Ferreira

Fogging is a popular way to control mosquitoes as it is visible and creates the impression that the authorities and pest control companies are doing something to combat dengue. But in reality, thermal fogging is an ineffective method in controlling mosquitoes and it also provides a false sense of protection against mosquitoes.

Recent studies have shown that fogging is effective only when the chemicals come in direct contact with mosquitoes. At the time of fogging, mosquitoes fly away and after the smoke clears, they fly back.

Fogging is not only ineffective in controlling mosquito populations but potentially harmful to human health. Most of the chemicals used in fogging are neurotoxins that can affect the nervous system of humans, animals and birds. Frequent thermal fogging may increase mosquito resistance to insecticides, giving rise to super mosquitoes that are hard to control. Fogging impacts negatively on non-target beneficial insects such as ladybirds and pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Regular fogging operations can harm biodiversity and cause ecological imbalance.

We should also focus our attention to reset the degraded eco-system by creating an environment so that dragonflies, fish, frogs and bats will be back. They play an important role in reducing mosquito populations since they feed on mosquitoes and their larvae.

To protect the community from mosquito-borne diseases, the authorities need to look at factors contributing to a rise in dengue virus and need to focus primary on dengue prevention and implement preventive integrated mosquito management strategies to help the community to mitigate the risk from deadly dengue.

The bright side is outdoor thermal fogging is strictly restricted to private pest control companies in Sri Lanka by the regulators. It’s time for all of us to understand the realty and we must stop pretending that fogging is effective and should divert our resources to real solutions to combat mosquitoes and to mitigate the risk of dengue.

The best and safest method of mosquito control is still the elimination of mosquito breeding sites. These often involve getting homeowners and business maintenance and cleaning staff to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, including less-expected breeding sites such as bracts of flowers and plants, septic tanks, gutters and damp bathroom floors. Garbage bins, recycling bins and construction waste bins filled with stagnant water create ideal breeding and harbourage sites for mosquitoes. There should be a requirement for all these bins to have drainage holes at the bottom to allow water to flow out.

The writer is the Founder/Managing of Exterminators Limited, he has been in the pest management industry for over 30 years and have undergone intensive training in pest management, dengue management, termite management and fumigation in Australia, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Thailand, USA, UK, UAE and European Union.