BIOENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL MALARIA AT BHARAT-HEAVY-ELECTRICALS-LTD, HARDWAR, INDIA - RESULTS OF A 9-YEAR STUDY (1987-95)

A bioenvironmental model to control malaria at Bharat Heavy Electrical s Ltd. in Hardwar was developed by using existing resources to reduce mosquito breeding. The civil maintenance department carried out major source reduction work by filling pits, low lying areas, ditches, etc., with fly ash from a coal-fired power station, construction of stand p osts and proper drainage, mosquito proofing of overhead tanks, and pre ventive maintenance of the water supply and the sewage system. The pro ject staff has applied 1) expanded polystyrene beads to underground ta nks, leaking sluice valve chambers, and blocked sewage manholes; 2) bi olarvicides to water accumulated in factory scraps, blocked drains, an d riverbed pools, and 3) larvivorous fish to storm water drains, efflu ent ponds, and drains for the effective control of mosquito breeding. Improved surveillance and treatment coupled with comprehensive develop mental schemes were additional tools to gain community support. As a r esult of intervention measures, the vector density in the township was significantly lowered compared to that of a control area, and there w as a drastic reduction in malaria incidence compared to that of the pr eintervention year: only 190 cases were recorded in 1995, compared to 3,049 cases in 1985. The study has shown that malaria control in an in dustrial township through an integrated control approach is practical, sustainable, and economically feasible and reduces insecticide pollut ion in the environment.