Incessant rainfall and the resultant flooding have forced the Pune Municipal Corporation to embark on a mosquito control programme.
PUNE: Incessant rainfall and the resultant flooding have forced the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to embark on an ambitious mosquito control programme in the city and its suburban areas.
Following directives from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), the State Health Department has directed all the municipal corporations, municipalities, zilla parishads and gram panchayats to accord top priority to mosquito control.
Taking lessons from the dengue outbreak in various parts of Maharashtra last year and the ongoing chikungunya outbreak this year, the Health Department has asked the civic bodies to undertake mosquito control on a war footing. Reacting to the directive, the PMC has undertaken a larvicidal operation to remove the natural breeding sites of the mosquitoes. Insecticides are being sprayed on a daily basis into the drains, cesspools and cesspits containing domestic effluents. The increase in the construction activities and the resultant water stagnation in the city have been instrumental in adding to the mosquito population.
Confirming an increase in the mosquito numbers, chief health officer of PMC, Pramod Daigude said that preventive measures were being undertaken on a war footing. “Last year we had many cases of dengue and malaria. There have also been cases of chikungunya. Mosquito control is a necessary preventive measure,” said Daigude to DNA. With chikungunya assuming epidemic proportions in the State, the PMC is not taking any chances with its preventive programme. Four mobile teams have been set up to monitor the health situation in the city and create awareness amongst the populace to take preventive measures against mosquitoes. The teams are urging people to use personal protection methods such as repellents and mosquito nets.
According to Daigude the mobile units are visiting the flood affected areas round the clock and dispensing health care on a priority basis. Mediclor solution is also being distributed in the affected areas.
Meanwhile as the rains continue unabated for nearly two weeks now, private doctors are reporting an outbreak of patients with cold, fever, influenza, throat infections and malarial fever.
Post floods, the PMC has also puts the medical staff in the two civic hospitals including the hospital for communicable diseases and 44 dispensaries on high alert. Directives have been issued to report every case of malaria, dengue and chikungunya to the civic body. Private practitioners have also been advised to report such cases to the competent authorities at the civic body.
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