Dengue-hit Dharan destroying mosquito breeding grounds

Published On: June 6, 2019 07:49 AM NPT By: Rohit Rai

Health officials checking discarded tires, which trap water and offer breeding grounds for mosquitoes, at a locality in Dharan on Wednesday. Dharan metropolis has launched a mosquito search and destroy campaign after a dengue outbreak, which has infected at least 173 people in four weeks. Rohit Rai/Republica

DHARAN, June 6: Authorities have intensified their campaign against dengue fever in Dharan submetropolis from Wednesday. Special technical teams have been deployed to destroy mosquito eggs and larvae.

Earlier health workers had warned immediate action against the outbreak and Dharan Sub-Metropolis had sought help from the provincial and federal governments to combat the disease. In the past four weeks, at least 173 people have been infected by the disease in the sub-metropolis and are undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

Health workers have asked the locals to eliminate standing water where dengue mosquitoes breed and keep their homestead and drains free of standing water and puddles.

On Wednesday morning, the metropolis office organized a dengue awareness march in the city. The participants including the assistant CDO of Sunsari, senior police officials, civil servants and others carried various awareness placards including the dos and donts and distributed leaflets with information on dengue.

“We are tackling the outbreak from all fronts. There is awareness campaign going on and our technical teams are destroying mosquito and mosquito eggs and larvae. Cleanliness is key to preventing the disease,” said Bijaya Kumar Khanal, doctor at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan and also the coordinator of the Rapid Response Team.