With the launch of ‘Plan -300,’ Thoothukudi Corporation has intensified anti-dengue measures to prevent outbreak of any disease caused by mosquito bite.
With the target of covering 50 houses every day, Domestic Breeding Checkers (DBCs), along with sanitary workers, would be engaged in mosquito breeding source reduction activities on six days a week, according to City Health Officer of Corporation, Pradeep V. Krishnakumar.
Thoothukudi Corporation has a total of 95,409 households and 240 DBCs would be involved in the task. Pamphlets about the possible cause of dengue and do's and don'ts to ward off the disease would be given to households.
Mosquitoes, especially ‘Aedes’ causes the dengue. However, children and those with less immunity were vulnerable to dengue.
Hence, the residents need to be more aware that mosquitoes should not be allowed to breed in unwanted sources such as worn out or unused things left behind houses, coconut shells, stagnant water in the refrigerator’s tray, water-filled money plant container and also in toilets that were not used regularly, he told The Hindu here on Thursday.
Apart from source reduction works, the people would also be educated about the ill impacts of dengue and measures required to prevent the disease.
Water containers or utensils should be cleaned and scrubbed completely and water should be stored once the containers had dried. Aedes mosquito could lay and breed eggs and larva and it could remain in water containers even up to a period of six months to two years. Further, abate solution would be poured in potable water as part of the anti dengue measures.
Chlorination
More importantly, he stressed the need for chlorination of water, which requires a minimum of point two parts per million to point five parts per million to prevent water-borne diseases.
Besides, the new construction sites, where water curing of buildings was in progress, would also be identified and the constructors would be asked not to cause water stagnation.
Overhead water tanks would be cleaned up and he said fever case surveillance would also be taken up.
‘Nilavembu kudineer’ would be given to children in the fourth round in schools and anganwadi centres. On the whole, he said it was community participation and the initiative should come from people to prevent the disease.
