For the first time, the Corporation health officials started adopting natural pest control measures to eradicate mosquitoes spreading dengue fever here on Thursday. Official teams went to schools and houses and burnt dry stems and leaves of Neem and ‘Nochi’ trees to eradicate mosquitoes.
The officials said the smoke coming out of the burning leaves and stems banished mosquitoes to a larger extent, and the result of the trial was very good.
Instead of fumigating open areas in a large scale, burning of dry leaves in every house and buildings would have better impact. Moreover, it would not affect the health of the people. The response from the people to this natural measure was very encouraging. Fumigation would also take place simultaneously, they also added.
Similar operation was done on school campuses as well. Fourteen teams had been demonstrating this method of eradicating mosquitoes in various schools and residential areas such as Meenakshinaikenpatti, R.M. Colony, Nagal Nagar, Nehruji Nagar and Begampur, they said.
The officials also removed unused cement water tanks and water containers kept outside houses in these areas and advised the residents to keep water containers clean and closed with lid.
Already, health officials attached to the Siddha unit had intensified distribution of ‘Nilavembu Kashayam’ to all, particularly students of government schools and visitors at corporation and primary health centres.
