LUCKNOW: A small fry from the coastal belt of India could prove a potent weapon in the battle against the menace of Japanese encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh. This small killer fish, Gambusia, is known for devouring mosquito larvae - 100 to 300 per day. So, the UP government has added it to its armoury for controlling mosquitoes, which are primary responsible for the spread of the dreaded disease that has claimed more than 5,000 lives in the past seven years. "Bringing Gambusia against mosquitoes is like launching a biological attack on disease-causing vector. Mosquito control is important to check both japanese and acute encephalitis," said Mukesh Meshram, NRHM mission director in the state. "Gambusia is a surface feeder, hence it is suitable for feeding on both malaria-causing mosquitoes (anophelines) and common house mosquito (culicines)," he added. The cost of running the project in 20 encephalitis-hit districts of eastern UP is a meager Rs 39 lakh per annum. As per the project mooted by the state fisheries department, the government would buy these fish from Bengal, Gujarat and Maharashtra at a rate of Rs 4 per unit to be fertilized at 100 primary and community health centres in these districts. The full-grown fish would be released in drains, ponds and other places where water naturally gets accumulated and allows mosquitoes to breed freely. UP is not the only state banking on this little fish for mosquito control. In fact, it is also known as the mosquito fish. In a set of guidelines issued by the National Vector-Borne Diseases Control Programme, the ministry of health has advocated the use of Gambusia for control of mosquito population. Not only this, vector control agencies across the world also rely on the cod for getting rid of the mosquito menace. "Gambusia Affini are indispensible to modern mosquito control programmes," reads an American health advisory. An Indian Council of Medical Research study revealed that Gambusia has a predation rate of 65.7% in natural habitats. In fact, a study conducted in Shahjahanpur revealed that it helped control mosquito larvae by 87.8%. There is evidence to prove that the fish works equally well in settings like marshy areas, wells, pits and rice fields. Gambusia was brought to India in the late 1920s and is easily available in Bengal, Maharashtra and Gujarat. According to experts, it is easy to transport and hatch this fish for various purposes. "It survives in new places (water bodies) and multiplies easily. After release when it becomes well established in a water body, the fish can survive in good numbers for years and does not require constant care," said a health ministry document. What is Gambusia Gambusia affins is an exotic fish that is a mosquitoes' natural enemy. Upto 300 mosquito larvae fall prey to a single gambusia fish. It breeds fast and can survive in any kind of tropical climate. State Fisheries department has proposed to procure 12 lakh gambusia fish at a rate of Rs 4 per unit and leave them in all places where mosquitoes breed. The project covers 20 affected encephalitis districts. The fish will also be cultured in primary and community health centers to feed the demand and supply chain. The entire project would cost around Rs 39 lakhs.