Dengue Drive Day launched in city

Mangaluru: Deputy commissioner S Sasikanth Senthil launched the Dengue Drive Day by looking for mosquito larvae in and around his residence—Collectors Bungalow— at Balmatta, in the presence of district officials and activists on Sunday.
The district administration has launched a drive to control the spread of dengue in the city, by encouraging people to check for larvae at homes, and destroy the same. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector that transmits the virus that causes dengue. It breeds only in freshwater, and often inside homes. This type of mosquito bites its victims in the day, and generally resides in dark places.
Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) deputy commissioner (revenue), Gayathri Nayak, said after the symbolic inauguration of Dengue Drive Day at the DC’s residence, they went around looking for mosquito breeding spots around the zilla panchayat office. As monsoon begins, water gets filled in waste drums, unused tyres, flower pots, containers and terraces that act as breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Thus, it is important to clean water storage places, fill unused tyres with mud, and dispose of unused containers. “We hope to continue this drive in the coming Sundays, and should be initiated every year, with the onset of monsoon,” she said.
A team led by zilla panchayat CEO R Selvamani visited the zilla panchayat premise. An empty paint box filled with rainwater, spotted in a corner, was destroyed by the volunteers. Children participated in the drive. Activist Suresh Shetty spread awareness on dengue by showing live larvae.
Selvamani, along with other officials, including Gayathri Nayak and district health and family welfare officer M Ramakrishna Rao, found larvae breeding in the water collected in discarded empty plastic food packets and flower vases in the premises of one of the quarters. In another, they found mosquito larvae in the tray of a fridge. In a few quarters, they found larvae breeding in the water collected in a few plastic containers used to grow plants that were placed on the compound wall, and shells of discarded tender coconut.
Annoyed over the lack of seriousness on the part of government officials in clearing larvae, Selvamani directed the PWD official to issue notices to occupants of staff quarters. “If we find larvae during the inspection next week, those occupants will be asked to vacate the premises. Spot fines will also be collected,” he said. Selvamani said that they have planned to hold a larvae clearance drive every Friday in the government offices and surrounding areas.
Signature drives and flash mobs were held in malls to create awareness on dengue. Sasikanth Senthil said that it is time to say “bye bye larvae”. A meeting with heads educational institutions will be held on Monday. They will be advised on measures to control mosquito breeding.