According to the public health department, offices and homes that collect water indoors serve as breeding ground for malaria and dengue-causing mosquitoes
After insecticidal fogging around slum areas, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is targeting corporate offices to control the ever-rising numbers of dengue cases. The public health department realised that dengue-causing mosquitoes also breed in corporate office spaces. These wards also have a higher number of dengue cases. According to BMC officials, with the receding monsoon, mosquitoes start locating stagnant water in domestic areas like households and work places. Starting this week, a new campaign for dengue awareness has been initiated in offices and cramped buildings in city wards B, C, D, E, F south and north, and G south and north.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito (Dengue mosquito) lays its eggs on the walls of water-filled containers. Adult mosquitoes rest in dark areas or indoors, while only female mosquitoes bite humans. BMC authorities have been concentrating on creating awareness among people to make sure that there is no stagnant water collection indoors.u00a0
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The housekeeping staff that is responsible for cleaning and maintaining hygiene in corporate offices is being given lectures to ensure that water collecting in flower pots and air conditioner outlets in such offices are cleaned regularly. If water is left unchanged for over seven days, it will attract mosquitoes.u00a0
The insecticide department of BMC is also coordinating at ward levels and ensuring that fogging is done on a daily basis. Advanced Locality Management (ALMs) networks are also conducting awareness campaigns and Sunday camps to spread awareness about dengue and its symptoms.
Dr Arun Bamne, executive health officer, BMC, said, “We have intensified our efforts because of the rise in cases of dengue. The BMC has instructed doctors at BMC hospitals and private practitioners to check every case arriving with a symptom of fever for symptoms of dengue or malaria.”
“With the rains receding there is less possibility of stagnant water accumulating in open spaces. This causes mosquitoes to breed in domestic spaces.
Our efforts have brought down malaria cases by 60 per cent as compared to previous years. We are sure that even dengue cases will gradually reduce,” said, additional municipal commissioner, Manisha Mhaiskar. The executive health officer of the public health department of BMC is the highest authority who is responsible for controlling dengue cases in city, she added.
The number game
In case of detection of malaria and dengue call toll free number 108
Total cases of malaria and dengue (since Jan 2012):
Malaria: 13,219;
Deaths: 30
Dengue: 572;
Deaths: 3
Total cases (since October 2012):
Malaria cases: 360 deaths: 0
Dengue cases: 63 deaths: 0u00a0
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