A short post before I forget it.
On a recent trip to Kerala I noticed a perceptible decline in the mosquito menace. I mentioned this at the Lotus Club, Cochin one evening. I was told that shortly after festivals like Onam and Christmas there is a drop in the mosqito population of Kerala. Naturally, I was keen to know the reason.
The story goes like this. Some scientists noticed the phenomena and carried out a research. They found that after the festive seasons, the active mosquitoes die almost en masse. Further studies revealed the reason for this.
The deaths of the insects occurred from cirrhosis of the liver.
Now, how do these pests get the liver ailment which is attributed to excess consumption of liquor? From the alcohol content in the blood stream of the people they bite.
It would appear that unless the mosquitoes go on a fast during festive seasons in Kerala they have very little chance of survival. During Onam celebrations last month, reportedly the liquor consumption in this little state (22 million voters in 2004) was estimated to be worth Rs. 2500 million (Rs. 250 crore)!
It is said that the state has a per capita consumption of 8.3 liters of alcohol. This is the highest in the country.
Incidentally, the figures for Kerala do not include my intake. That comes in the Tamil Nadu statistics.
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Also see:
Christmas spirit in Kerala
Kerala: Onam goes up in spirit
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