PMC takes precautionary measures against dengue

Patna: With the number of dengue cases increasing in other parts of the country, Patna Municipal Corporation and the state health department have pulled up their socks with stress on the anti-larvae spray and destruction of potential breeding sites in households and neighbourhood. A total of 35 dengue cases have been registered across Bihar since January this year, including 15 in Patna. However, the cases increase from July-end onwards.

PMC commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar said they have recently formed 375 teams, five for each ward, to check mosquito breeding. "Each team has two members - one to carry the machine and the other to visit the houses and check the pots, terrace and other such places where mosquitoes breed. This person will also carry a register to note the details of the houses they have covered," said Parashar, adding such teams have so far covered one lakh of the nearly 4 lakh houses. PMC has targeted to have anti-larvae spray within its jurisdiction thrice till August 15. Apart from that, Parashar said fogging was also being done on a routine basis. As per the information shared by him, the PMC has 135 fogging machines - 74 hand-held and 61 vehicle-mounted.

The health department has recently trained urban ASHAs in identifying larvae in the stagnant water, along with sensitizing people about dengue and how mosquitoes breed. Their training was given on Thursday. Patna district vector-borne disease control officer, Dr Subhash Chandra, conducted the training. He even asked people to follow all precautions and ensure they do not have breeding site at home.

"Water can get collected in pots, terrace, cooler or even in the container used in puja (lota). Hence, people should ensure these do not become the breeding sites," said Dr Chandra, advising dengue positive people to isolate themselves and remain in the net. "It is a viral disease and self limiting. Less than one percent dengue patients need hospitalization," he added.