Food vendors, the new focus of dengue drive in Chennai

Around 20,000 food-business operators, including star hotels will be sensitised about the disease

October 26, 2012 08:29 am | Updated November 16, 2021 09:49 pm IST - CHENNAI:

The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has roped in the city’s food vendors in their drive against dengue and water-borne diseases this monsoon.

Around 20,000 food-business operators, including star hotels, will become the focal point of a mosquito control drive, said officials of the department.

Since many of the premises owned by food-business operators were found to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the Chennai Corporation and the food safety department have decided to focus here, as part of their massive awareness drive.

The drive is being organised in areas such as Anna Nagar, Kothwal Chavadi, T. Nagar, Perambur and Tondiarpet. On Thursday, hundreds of food vendors, including hotel owners participated in an awareness meeting.

Senior entomologists conducted training sessions on ways to prevent the growth of mosquito larvae and on how to identify breeding grounds. The training sessions also included information on the four different types of dengue spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Officials also made a presentation on the disease for the participants, and said awareness programmes were needed to sensitise all their employees, too, about the infection.

The drive for mosquito control and prevention of water-borne diseases are part of efforts towards increasing food safety and preventing food adulteration in the city. The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 came into force on August 5, 2011.

The Corporation issues trade licences to food-business operators, while their registration is carried out by the food safety department.

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