KOCHI: At a time when almost all the sectors are hit by the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the sale of mosquito repellent products has registered an increase thanks to the rising mosquito menace in the city.
Merchants at Ernakulam Broadway say that products worth a minimum of Rs 5,000 are being sold at each shop every day. There are around 100 to 150 shops selling mosquito repellent products, including nets, bats, incense sticks and liquid, in the Ernakulam Market.
“The sale of mosquito repellent products has become a major business now. We receive minimum 20 customers per day. The customers are from the city limits and adjoining areas,” says Sachin Eddison, an employee at a stationery store in the market.
Geo job, another merchant, says enquiries are rising now. “There are many lodges around the market and many people, who come to the lodges unaware of the mosquito menace, visit the market in the night for buying repellents. Those coming to buy other products in our shop also buy mosquito repellents nowadays,” he said.
Sunny C K of Kunnamkulam, a merchant who has been in residing in Kochi for 45 years, remembered how the mosquito menace increased in the city and said the mosquitoes get adapted to the changing circumstances in the city. “When I reached here at the age of 15, the mosquito menace was very less. Single fan in a room was enough to keep the mosquitoes away. Later, we had to use fans whole day to keep the mosquitoes away. Then we shifted to insecticides to address the issue. Now we use bats to get rid of mosquitoes. The main reason for the rising menace is waterlogging. Sale of mosquito repellent products to the tune of at least Rs 5 lakh takes place in Ernkaulam Market per day now,” he added.
Vector control unit authorities say the rise in mosquito menace is due to clogged drains. “Armigeres mosquito, also called nuisance mosquito, causes itching and pain. It breeds on polluted water and can found in pipes of septic tank, unused bottles and other places,” said biologist A M Abdul Jabbar.
As the mosquito menace rises, some organizations have also started to do spraying of insecticide. Jabbar said unscientific spraying will lead to mosquitoes developing resistance to the insecticide.
