Surveillance of Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes in and around International Airport, Kerala - Assessment of vector control efforts

Abstract

Vector-borne Diseases (VBDs) such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, zika virus and yellow fever are reported in over 100 countries and put up to 60% of the world’s population at risk of infection; more than 500 million cases are reported each year. The International Health Regulations (IHR) emphasizes to look after international seaports/airports and surrounding areas up to 400 meters free of Aedes aegypti mosquito and other vectors of epidemiological significance. Vector surveillance and control at Port of Entry (PoE) is an essential activity for the implementation of IHR. Hence Entomological surveillance was done inside and the residential areas around Cochin International Airport during 2013 to 2019. Aedes larval indices in both inside and residential areas outside the airport were found to be below the critical level in all these years. However the study showed no Aedes positivity inside the airport during 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Effectiveness of vector control measures implemented in and around the airport is deliberated.