Scientists at the University of North Bengal have called for intensified surveillance (Shutterstock)In at least three north Bengal districts, mosquitoes that spread the parasitic worm that causes lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis, show resistance to insecticides used by public health authorities to curb mosquito populations. Scientists at the University of North Bengal have called for intensified surveillance after they detected samples of the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur showing resistance to four classes of insecticides — organophosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrethroids and DDT. Insect biologist Dhiraj Saha and his students collected field populations of Culex mosquitoes from April to November 2018 from eight densely populated sites in the three districts. Now, the researchers have found samples of mosquitoes from eight sites from the three north Bengal districts resistant to synthetic pyrethroids — permethrin, deltamethrin and lambdacyhalothrin — and other insecticides. The scientists say the emergence of resistance to pyrethroids is a major concern because these insecticides are used in long-lasting insecticide-treated bednets.

Source: The Telegraph June 01, 2019 21:00 UTC