Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its dengue prevention drive across the city by stepping up surveillance, anti-larval operations and awareness campaigns amid growing concerns over mosquito-borne diseases during the monsoon season. The civic body said only 12 dengue cases have been reported in the city so far this year, with the positivity rate standing at 0.11%.
Following the directions of BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana, special teams have been deployed across the city’s three zones to conduct door-to-door inspections in wards, streets, sahis and bastis to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sources.
Since the launch of the campaign on July 1, BMC teams have surveyed 40,639 households and reached out to 1,27,517 residents to spread awareness about dengue prevention. During the inspections, mosquito breeding sites were detected in 3,554 households, while 2,968 breeding sources were destroyed.
As part of its source reduction strategy, the civic body identified and removed 34,283 water-holding containers that could serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Currently, 220 trained personnel are engaged in anti-larval operations across the city, supported by 90 spray machines for regular fogging and larvicide spraying. Approved larvicides, including Temephos, are being used at vulnerable locations to prevent mosquito breeding.
The BMC has also intensified awareness campaigns through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programmes. So far, the civic body has conducted 2,403 IEC activities, 45 community awareness meetings and 75 school awareness programmes, besides distributing leaflets among residents.
A total of 10,618 blood samples collected from suspected dengue patients have been tested this year, of which 12 cases were found positive. One of the cases was detected from outside Bhubaneswar. The current dengue positivity rate stands at 0.11%, which is significantly lower than the corresponding period last year.
BMC Mayor Sulochana Das on Monday said the decline in dengue cases was a result of early preventive measures and active participation from citizens.
“Compared to last year, dengue cases are much lower this year. Though continuous rainfall creates favourable conditions for mosquito breeding, the BMC has made all necessary arrangements to tackle the situation,” Das said.
She added that dengue-prone areas had been identified and special measures were being taken in those locations.
“We have deployed 70 outsourced workers along with 150 BMC personnel to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sources. Fogging activities are also being carried out whenever weather conditions permit. Awareness activities are continuing to ensure that people remain alert,” the Mayor said.
The BMC has appealed to residents to prevent water stagnation, regularly clean water storage containers and cooperate with civic teams to keep dengue cases under control in the city.
