A municipal health officer investigates an outbreak of malaria in an Indian metropolitan city. Larval survey reveals breeding of vectors in overhead tanks, rooftop cisterns and construction sites with stagnant water. Which Anopheles species is the principal urban vector responsible?

• A Anopheles culicifacies
• B Anopheles minimus
• C Anopheles fluviatilis
• D Anopheles stephensi ✓

Explanation

Anopheles stephensi is the recognised urban vector of malaria in India, breeding in man-made containers such as overhead tanks, wells, cisterns and construction sites, and it drives outbreaks in towns and cities. Anopheles culicifacies is the major rural vector, fluviatilis breeds in hill stream margins, and minimus inhabits forested northeastern foothill areas, so these do not fit the metropolitan setting described.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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