'Say no to Japanese Encephalitis with ornamental fish'

Varanasi, July 29 (UNI) Colourful ornamental fish could play a vital role in countering mosquito-borne viral ailments, including Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Malaria, Filaria and Dengue, Kerala fishing department officials claimed here.

The centre recently, at a high level meeting in New Delhi hinted towards going for a national programme on ornamental fish breeding to counter the menace of mosquito-borne viral diseases, especially JE, MATSYA FED (Kerala Fishing) Managing Director K N Mohanan Nambiar said.

Interacting with newspersons, Mr Nambiar yesterday said ornamental fish especially Gambusia, Guppy, Aplochelus and Rasbora feed on larva (eggs) of mosquito in pools, drains and stagnant water among other places.

''By putting an end to mosquito population, the colourful fish, will subsequently nip in the bud all vector-borne ailments including JE, which has caused substantial casualities in East Uttar Pradesh.'' Four types of mosquitoes including Culex, Anophales and Aedes carry to the humans, the virus causing the fatal ailments. The ornamental fish, if breeded in ponds, drains and other stangnant water bodies, will put an end to the carriers of the disease by eating up the larva of the mosquitos.

Mr Nambiar said addressing the mosquito-borne diseases through ornamental fish could not only reduce the mortality rate, but slash the overall financial burden of the health ministry.

A meeting was recently held at the central government level in this regard in New Delhi, which was attended among others by Mr Nambiar.

''The centre is working for devising a national plan to counter mosquito borne fatalities through breeding of ornamental fishes.'' Calling upon fish farmers of East UP to go for breeding of ornamental fish, Mr Nambiar said mental hospitals in South were increasing their demand for colourful fish varieties, after realising these could play a crucial role in treatment of widespread mental disorders of depression and anxiety.

''Mental hospitals in South were setting up big size aquariums to initiate colour therapy to patients of depression and anxiety.

Besides, offering a tool for colour therapy, the ornamental fish also arouse the child sense in patients, resultantly ushering much needed joy in their lives,'' the fishery official maintained.

Mr Nambiar further said the breeding of ornamental fish was easy and economical.

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