Chennai: Even though doctors claim that fogging is not very effective in terms of eliminating the risk of mosquito borne diseases and that its effects are mainly psychological, the Greater Chennai Corporation use both vehicle-mounted and hand-held fogging machines on a daily basis to satisfy the demands of the public.
This however, contributes to creating health problems –either physical or psychological- for those inhaling it. “We have had many cases of patients coming in with allergic reactions and respiratory problems developed following fogging,” said Dr Ganga Malan, IMA physician of GFATM, (Global Fund to Fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria).
The main factor behind this is the imbalance in chemical compounds that are combined in fogging, she asserted.
Though WHO states that mosquito fogging, being conducted by the Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (VBDCP) will not harm humans, the Centre for Science and Environment has found, from a research conducted recently, that it is harmful for children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments.
“Each time people come to fog our campus, I develop a terrible headache,” said Saurab D. of Purasawalkam.
“It is important that residents lock up their houses until the effect of the smoke subsides,” clarified pulmonologist Dr Prasanna Kumar Thomas. However, he opined, most health problems caused, as a result of fogging, are psychological.
“The mind has the ability to force an individual to think that he/she is sick even if that is not true,” explained psychologist Malti Simha. An individual may also think that his area is free from mosquitoes after it is fogged, though that does not happen, she added.
“Ensuring that diseases like dengue do not spread is essentially the need of the hour. Depending on measures like fumigation alone will certainly not work,” observed Dr Stephen M, a general physician.
