Assessment of the Health Effects Associated with the Flies, Mosquito and Rodent Indices in Khan Younis City

Abstract

The study is designed to characterize the environmental situation of Khan Younis (KHY) City, to identify the health effects associated with the current environmental situation and to suggest methods for optimizing or improving the current environmental health associated with flies, mosquitoes and rodents in KHY city.Different breeding sites of mosquitoes, flies and rodents were identified and monitored during the study period. Mosquitoes, flies and rodents were collected from the breeding sites then sent to the laboratory for identification and characterization. Health data in KHY city were collected using 246 questionnaires randomly distributed among population. Data were analyzed using Tukey's and ANOVA tests. Results showed that mosquitoes were abundant in all sites. The peak season was observed from the end of the May beginning of June due to the rise in temperature. Sex ratio was 58% for female and 42% for male. Identification of mosquitoes indicated that culex species were most dominant in all tested sites., Flies were abundant in all breeding sites. The density of flies was very high in the center of the breeding sites and decreased far away from the center and became very lowof 16 m away from the site. Flies were most abundant in fish market than in animal farm or transfer station of solid waste in Alnamsawy breeding sites. Identification of flies indicated that houseflies were the most abundant in the three sites, whereas blue bottle or green bottle fly were less abundant in these sites. Average sex ratio was 29.5 ± 2.6 for male flies whereas female flies average was 26.67 ± 4.97. Mouse and rats were abundant in all blocks of KHY city with average 209 ± 164 and171 ± 146 respectively. Mouse average sex ratio was 53% male and 47% for female. This study demonstrated that the use of pesticides for control of rodent was more effective than of cage method. Socio economic evaluation of health and environmental records were in agreement with mosquitoes, flies and rodents evaluation in KHY city during this study.