Observations on the breeding habitats of Aedes aegypti in Calcutta following an episode of dengue haemorrhagic fever.

ABSTRACT

A year-long (Nov. 1990-Oct. 1991) search for Ae. aegypti larvae was made of all water containers in and around fixed 100 houses at Bowbazar area in Calcutta following an episode of DHF. Out of 10151 containers searched, 615 (6%) were positive. Masonry tanks were the major (64.2%) and preferred (17%) breeding sites of Ae. aegypti. Indoor containers (6.7%) were more conducive to breeding of the vector species than the outdoor ones (3%). Breteau index showing wide variation (25 in December '90 to '93 in August 1991) proved to be the best for measurement of density of larval population of Ae. aegypti and paralleled the fluctuation in both rainfall and humidity. Role of temperature was not pronounced. It was noted that cases of DHF occurred even with the lowest Breteau index in December.