Source – WHO The mosquito fogging being conducted by the Vector Borne Disease Control Program (VBDCP) will not harm humans, reminds the World Health Organization (WHO) and Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). VBDCP staff from Honiara City Council (HCC) and Guadalcanal Province (GP) have been conducting ‘mosquito fogging’ operations in Honiara and in some areas of GP over the last month. These operations have been in response to the increased numbers of dengue cases that have been recorded, mainly in HCC. Precautionary fogging is also being applied at the major evacuation centres following the flash flooding in early April. Vector Borne Disease Control Program staff of Guadalcanal Province conducting mosquito fogging operations in a flood-affected community. Photo: WHO/Joy RC The aim of the mosquito fogging operations is to kill, or ‘knock-down’, any adult dengue mosquitoes that may be carrying the dengue virus. The mosquitoes become infected with the virus after biting and taking blood from someone who is sick with dengue. To try and prevent the infected mosquito from biting another person and passing on the disease, the VBDCP is applying the mosquito fog in areas where a lot of dengue cases have been reported to try to kill as many adult dengue mosquitoes as possible. The insecticide used in the mosquito fogging is a synthetic pyrethroid that is very similar to the insecticides used in most domestic insect spray cans that are found on supermarket shelves. The ‘fog’ is created by blasting the mixture of insecticide and water into very fine droplets through the fogging machine. The amount of insecticide in the fog is very small, and is dispersed at quantities that can only kill something as small as a mosquito, so at the concentrations used there will be no adverse health effects on people who are occasionally exposed to the fog. The type of insecticide being used in the fogger is also completely odourless. The ‘mosquito fogger’ is a very large and noisy machine that is transported in the back of a truck. The vehicle has a warning light and is driven slowly around the streets where high dengue numbers have been recorded, blowing the fog into the yards for a distance of up to 90 metres away. It is useful for residents to leave all doors and windows in their house open at the time of fogging, as this will allow the fog to enter the house and kill any mosquitoes inside. Mosquito fogging operations are usually carried out between 5.30-7.30am, or 4.30-6.30pm, as this is the time when the outdoor dengue vector is most active and is looking to bite. While the fogging operations will have some success in killing adult mosquitoes in the areas that are treated, the residents of Honiara and GP are warned that this activity alone is not enough to protect everyone or prevent all dengue infections. To reduce and control dengue outbreaks a number of actions need to be taken not only by public authorities but also by residents. These include making sure there are no dengue mosquitoes breeding in your yard, such as in tyres, drums, buckets and any water storage containers, and that you also protect your family from mosquito bites inside and outside the house during the day and in the early morning and early evening. The best methods of personal protection are to apply insect repellent and/or to wear long sleeves and long pants. The MHMS plans to continue with the mosquito fogging operations until dengue case numbers have dropped substantially. The National VBDCP will be publishing a fogging schedule in the newspapers each week, which will list which suburbs they are planning to fog each day. The public are advised by MHMS not to be alarmed when mosquito fogging is being carried out in your area, but to cooperate by staying clear of the moving vehicle and of the fogging machine. Remember:

Fogging Machine Sprayers are devices used to Fog/Spray any Liquid which is Diesel based in large areas like Farms, Poultry Farms, Buildings, Societies, Bungalows ,etc. In past decade a few mosquito born diseases have developed because of many reasons ; Humans and Animals are getting affected to a great extent after mosquito bites.  Mosquitoes, Thrips, Mites and other Flies/Insects are impacting Humans as well as the Nature to a significant extent. Many mosquito born diseases already exist and many have evolved in last few decades like Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunia Virua, Zica Virus, West Nile Virus and so on. These virus are deadly up to the extent that many Humans and Animals loose their lives to the attacks done by mosquitoes. To understand Mosquito Born Diseases we should first understand the life cycle of mosquitoes. The above mentioned Mosquito Life Cycle can start anywhere where Water is in Stagnant state,  Waste is dumped , garbage is dumped or stored.  It takes not more than 8-10 days to complete the Mosquito Life Cycle which is too quick to control   The mosquito attack in small areas like 10×10 room can be controlled with the help of Domestic Remedies (the ones we use in our houses/offices) But for bigger areal like Societies, Schools, Colleges, Marriage Gardens, District Places, Gardens, Farms, Poultry Farms and so on these remedies are not so very effective being bigger area. So for such big areas use of Fogging Sprayers are used. Fogging Machines/Sprayers are the sprayer used to create Fog/spraying which can spread in large areas and can control the Menace of Mosquitoes. So people do often ask whether Fogging  Machines/Sprayers   kill mosquitoes, No Fogging  Machines/Sprayers  are Carriers used to spray the Chemicals used to control Mosquito Menace in large areas.  Fogging Machines/Sprayers are Classified as per the size of the area where Fogging needs to be done. For Example where area is less than 10000 sqft Mini/Handy Fogging Machine Sprayers are used for places like small societies, schools, Marriage Gardens and so on . For areas more than 10000 sqft Shoulder Mount Fogging Machines are used for places like small villages, Colonies, Big Schools and so on. For areas more than that Vehicle Mount Fogging Machines are used which Spray and Fogg in Mass scale and cover big areas like Big Roads on Street. So Basically concept of Fogging Machine/Sprayers is to cover large areas with Fog/Spray to help spray/Fog liquid in large areas. Pictures of Fogging Machines SSE-150 Thermal Shoulder Mount Fogging Sprayer Machine SSE-300 Double Barrel Vehicle Mount Fogging Sprayer Machine SSE-250 Single Barrel Vehicle Mount Fogging Sprayer Machine                                                    SSE-450 Handy Fogging Sprayer Machine