SDMC gears up for spraying

In order to curb mosquitoes menace in the national Capital, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has decided to spray insecticide named ‘Alpha Cyper Methrin’ which remains effective for three months from the date of spraying. Besides, the civic body has also taken a number of measures to prevent mosquito breeding, including creating awareness by using various media, deploying more dengue breeding checkers, and desilting of drains.

A senior SDMC official said the spraying will be done during months of May and June in the first phase whereas under second phase, it will be sprayed in July and August. “The spray will be especially concentrated in JJ and rehabilitation colonies as these areas are very suitable for breeding,” he said.

With the move, the SDMC officials believe that the approaching menace of vector borne diseases can be checked as the mosquitoes will be paralysed after coming in contact of such insecticide. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with insecticides is the main vector control strategy adopted in the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) in India to control malaria transmission.

Dengue and chikungunya are transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, while malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite that is passed from one human to another with the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.

SDMC Mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat said that the civic body has taken action for “Prevention and Control of Vector Borne Disease” much early this year, noticing the cases of dengue has already reached at nine.

Sehrawat also said a workshop was organised on February 28 in this direction in which experts from the Centre, the Delhi Government and neighbouring States deliberated in length to finalise an action plan.

Residents will also have an opportunity to visit SDMC dispensary to get tested for dengue for only Rs 299 and chikungunia for Rs 399 only.

The National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) had found two new species of Anopheles Stephensi (urban vector) and Anopheles Culicifacies (rural vector) circulating last year which causes havoc in the capital.

Experts have also raised the red flag after the resurgence of this deadly parasite and have advised Government agencies to take adequate measures to arrest the spread of this deadly infectious disease that can play havoc with people's health.