MOSQUITO fish (Gambusia affinis) is once again at the center of popularity for it’s the front line defense against dengue.

The latest to use them are the chapters of Lions Clubs International Dist. 301-C Northern Philippines whose key officers met at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for a leadership meeting.

After their conference, the chapters heeded the advice of Westly Rosario, BFAR center chief, who was the district leadership team coordinator, agreed to bring home thousands of mosquito fish for stocking and propagation in their respective areas.

Rosario said Dist. 301-C has made the dispersal of mosquito fish as its flagship project.

The 34 groups in Regions 1 and 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region took home 2,000 each of mosquito fish to fight dengue after they were taught how to propagate mosquito fish.

Rosario said the Lions decided on it due to expected increase of dengue cases especially during the rainy season.

Since the number of mosquito fish would will double in less than a month, it was agreed that these will be positioned in canals or creeks while others will be propagated for future stocking.

Mosquito fish multiply fast because they have the shortest sexual maturity of about 27 days only, he said.

While people use different methods to fight dengue but this (mosquito fish) is the simplest, Rosario said.” We kill the mosquitoes (through the larvae) while these are not yet flying,” he said.

He pointed out that this mosquito fish has been here in the Philippines. He said based on some readings, its propagation started during the war where malaria was a problem, thus these were distributed.

Female mosquito fish can grow up to seven cms. while the males are up to four cms.

He said anybody could ask for free at the BFAR center here mosquito fish. (Tita Roces)

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