Hot weather alters behaviour and life cycle of aedes mosquito

Amid the hot weather caused by the 'El Nino' phenomenon, citizens face another 'disaster', that is the spread of dengue fever, as the disease-carrying aedes mosquito had seen its behavior and life cycle change due to the heat.

Melaka Health Director Datuk Dr Ghazali Othman said the warm weather encouraged mosquitoes to become more aggressive and have a shorter-than-usual life cycle.

"Previously, the life cycle of a mosquito was a week, but it may be less than seven days in the hot weather, and it causes them them to bite more aggressively.

"Therefore, the community needs to remain vigilant and keep residential areas clean and avoid them from becoming mosquito breeding grounds," he told Bernama here.

A total of 73 dengue fever cases were recorded in Melaka between Jan 3-9, compared to 48 cases in the same period last year.

In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi said 110 dengue cases were recorded in the state from Jan 1 to 9, an increase of 41 cases or 59.4 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year.

In a statement here, she said Tawau had the highest number of cases at 38 followed by Tawau (16) and Kota Kinabalu (15).

She added that the department was intensifying operations to check the spread of the menace in the state.