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Overspraying hurts war against dengue fever in Kaohsiung

An increasing number of dengue fever cases are being reported in southern Taiwan and the mosquitoes that carry the disease have developed resistance to insecticide because of indiscriminate spraying, an Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) official said yesterday.

Despite the recent cooler weather, dengue fever still poses a threat in the south, especially around Kaohsiung City.

Wendy Wu (吳文娟), deputy director of the Department of Environmental Sanitation and Toxic Substance Management, said there have been 374 dengue cases reported nationwide this year, including 263 in Kaohsiung City and 70 in Kaohsiung County.

Wu said people demand that local authorities spray insecticide in the mistaken belief that this is the most effective way to control dengue fever. Because of this indiscriminate spraying, mosquitoes have developed resistance, she said.

“Spraying insecticide is only a temporary solution to the problem,” she said, adding that the most effective preventive measure is to remove the standing water where mosquitoes breed.
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