Mosquito larvae detected at 51 properties in Amritsar, challans issued

With 13 dengue and 16 chikungunya cases reported in the district so far, the Health Department has intensified its campaign to detect and destroy mosquito larvae in the city. The department has issued 51 challans to the owners of properties where mosquito larvae were detected during inspections.

District epidemiologist Harjot Kaur said, “A challan is issued only after two warnings. Preventing mosquito breeding is responsibility of every resident.” She said that the department teams continuously visit different areas to create awareness and inspect buildings.

As part of the dengue prevention campaign, Health Department officials visited the Bhagatanwala Sabji Mandi near Vallah. Civil Surgeon Kirandeep Kaur said, “We have conducted a special meeting with mandi supervisor and other officials.” She said that a chemical had been sprayed on stagnant water spots in the mandi to prevent mosquito breeding.

“Mosquito breeding usually takes place where water is stagnant. As such, we should not let the water accumulate near over houses,” she said, adding that teams were visiting all hotspots of dengue and malaria to keep a check on their spread.

Explaining the mosquito breeding process, Harjot added, “Within a week’s time the mosquito egg develops into a larva and then into an adult mosquito.” She said that for this reason the Health Department had launched the ‘Every Friday, Dry Day’ campaign. She added that if people could devote one day to check for any place inside and outside their houses which could potentially become mosquito breeding ground, the prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases could be significantly reduced.

Kirandeep further stated that as a precautionary step anti-mosquito fogging was being conducted in those areas which had reported of some positive case. “This fogging exercise is conducted by the Health Department and it is in addition to the one done by the municipal corporation,” she added.

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