Aedes breed in plastic bags and styrofoam packs, too

Star: Clogged drains and rain gutters may be the obvious items to check for stagnant water, but don’t discount the rubbish.
Used styrofoam food boxes and plastic bags can easily trap rain water and provide the right conditions for Aedes mosquitoes to breed.
“We have to drastically reduce the amount of rubbish strewn indiscriminately,” said Universiti Sains Malaysia Vector Control Research Unit co-ordinator Assoc Prof Zairi Jaal.
“We have to tackle the problem at the grassroots, especially the way we dispose of rubbish like styrofoam lunch packs and containers which are potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
“Mosquitoes even find their way into teh tarik plastic bags left behind by people,” he said.
Prof Zairi said abandoned construction sites on the island were one of the major sources of the dengue outbreak in the state, while other potential breeding grounds include waterlogged patches in football fields.
USM entomologist Prof Abu Hassan Ahmad urged the people not to shut their windows and doors when local authorities carry out fogging in the neighbourhood.
“People have a tendency to close all their windows and doors when the authorities fog their area. By doing so, the mosquitoes indoors will not be affected,” he said.
Prof Abu Hasan said that for safety’s sake, the people should bear with the smell from the fogging.
He said the chemicals used in the fogging were harmless to people.