DC directs health department, civic body to launch extensive drive to check high risk areas of mosquito breeding

Ludhiana, April 10, 2024: Making advance preparations to combat mosquito borne diseases like dengue, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney has directed the health department, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) among others to launch extensive drive to check the high risk areas/hotspots of mosquito breeding in the district.

Conducting a meeting at her office in this regard on Wednesday, DC Sawhney has also issued directions to conduct regular awareness drives in the district to apprise the residents about the precautionary steps which can be taken to avoid mosquito breeding in their houses and surroundings. 

The steps have been taken after three cases of dengue have been reported in Khanna recently. DC Sawhney said that this is unusual as the dengue cases are normally reported in or after July. However, as the cases have been reported, the health department, MC, BDPOs etc have been directed to make all efforts to combat the disease.

She said that the health department has already been conducting inspections to check mosquito breeding and they have been directed to intensify the drive to check breeding of mosquitoes. Around 100 anti-larvae teams are conducting inspections across the district out of which 18 are working in Ludhiana city areas. The teams have found dengue larvae at 35 locations in the district as of now. 25 challans have also been issued to the residents in Khanna. 

DC Sawhney said that the MC has been directed to take up targeted fogging drives in the areas where the mosquito larvae are found. The high risk areas should also be covered under the fogging drive. The health department has been directed to share the list of high risk areas with the civic body. The department should ensure that all the fogging machines are in good shape so that proper fogging should be done.

Stating that dengue is spread to the residents through the bites 'aedes aegypti' mosquitoes, DC Sawhney appealed the residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito breeding in their houses and surrounding areas. Mosquito breeding is reported at stagnant water and clear water, flower pots, refrigerator, coolers, tyres, bird feeders etc are among the breeding grounds.

She appealed the residents to take precautions, which includes avoiding water stagnation, covering body with proper/appropriate clothing etc. The residents can also adopt the practice of observing every Friday as 'Dry day' wherein the residents should take up cleanliness drives to avoid stagnant water in coolers, pots etc. 
 
DC Sawhney directed that fogging drives should also be taken up in schools/educational institutes and the students should be apprised of the precautions which can be taken to avoid dengue disease like wearing appropriate clothing to cover the body etc. The District Education Officers (DEOs) have also been directed to ensure cleanliness in schools. 

The health department officials stated that high fever, headache, joint pains, rash etc are among the symptoms of dengue and the residents should immediately approach the health department if they witness the symptoms.

Appealing the concerned officials to involve resident welfare associations (RWA), residents and villagers in the awareness drives, DC Sawhney urged the residents to support the administration in tackling the mosquito borne diseases by keeping their surroundings clean. 

ADC Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, ADC (Urban development) Rupinder Pal Singh, Assistant Commissioner (UT) Kritika Goyal, MC Joint Commissioner Navneet Kaur Bal, Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr Vivek Kataria among others were present in the meeting.