Mosquito larval density survey on Mahe in 1995

ABSTRACT

Our survey was carried out in the residential areas of Mahe island in 1995. Thirty to fifty houses from each of the 19 blocks lived in were randomly chosen and carefully checked both inside and outside within a circumference of 50 metres. Out of 974 water bodies; 461 were larval positive. Among the latter; 353 were found breeding larvae of Aedes albopictus ; 95 of Culex fatigans and 32 of Uranotania pandani. More than 3 species co-breeding were not found. Aedes aegypti was found three times only and all within St Louis. High density of Aedes albopictus puts Seychelles in great danger of having epidemics of yellow fever and dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever. Its proportion has almost doubled from that of 25 years ago and was also higher than that of 1994. All entomological indices are many times higher than that associated with outbreaks of yellow fever. Flower pots and used containers are the main sources of domestic breeding. We are facing a great challenge in source reduction for mosquito control and need the co-operation and help of all people and agencies in Seychelles