Nashik civic body steps up drive to check dengue, chikungunya

NASHIK: The civic administration has stepped up measures to destroy the mosquito breeding sites with dengue and chikungunya cases continuing to rise in the city.

The city has so far registered 214 dengue cases in August as against 185 last month. Similarly, the city has registered 156 new cases of chikungunya this month as compared to 147 cases in July. The total numbers of dengue and chikungunya cases in the city have increased to 480 and 388, respectively, since the beginning of this year.

The health department of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to slap a fine of Rs200 each residential and commercial establishment owners if mosquito breeding spots are found on their respective premises.

NMC commissioner Kailas Jadhav has directed the health officials to enhance spraying activities and conduct a drive to destroy the mosquito breeding spots. NMC health Rajendra Trimbake said the spells of rain with long gaps within have led to the rise in the mosquito breeding spots. “We have started taking measures to destroy the mosquito breeding spots and deployed ours squads in each of six divisions of the NMC to detect and destroy the mosquito breeding spots,” he said.

The administration has issued an advisory for the residents, urging them to clean and drying the water storage places once a week, keep all house-hold water storage units covered and keep premises clean to curb the spread of the vector-borne diseases.