Aedes Mosquito Larval Breeding in the Concrete Slab Cavities in International Airport, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh State

All the international seaports and airports of the country are under entomological surveillance for the prevention of Yellow fever as per the requirements of International Health Regulations (IHR).1 In recent years, major airports of India have shown substantial increase in the breeding potential of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus vector mosquito in the country. The main constraints faced by these airports include lack of adequate infrastructure for taking up vector control operations and unplanned expansion resulting in increase in the number of mosquitogenic structures.2,3 In India, Ae. aegypti is known as the principal vector of dengue fever and the involvement of Ae. albopictus in its transmission has recently been elucidated.4 The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIAP), the new green airport located in Shamshabad, is situated 40 kms from Hyderabad city (AP), and has been functioning from the year 2008. A vector breeding survey in the airport and its peripheral areas has been undertaken by the NCDC team as per the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) during November, 2010. The survey team has carried out an Aedes larval breeding survey in all the potential breeding habitats in and around the airport complex and peripheral areas within a radius of 0.4 kms surrounding the airport. The water supply and sewage treatment systems and other infrastructure of the airport are in the state of art facilities and free from mosquito breeding and also well maintained. A total of 20 premises were searched for Aedes breeding of which 5 (20%) were found positive for Aedes (Stegomyia) Species mosquitoes.