In the wake of the rising number of dengue fever cases, the District Medical Officer (DMO) has warned that strict action will be taken against those who do not destroy mosquito-breeding sources on their own premises.
In an attempt to curb the horde of communicable diseases and outbreaks of dengue, advisories have been issued and awareness programmes launched by squads by visiting households. The DMO warned that legal action will be taken against estates, households, tyre-retreading centres, butcheries, markets, hotels, bird or animal farms, ice-manufacturing plants and other institutions if breeding grounds are found on their premises.
The number of dengue cases recorded in the district since January this year has crossed one thousand. However, according to District Collector K N Satheesh, no hotspot of fever has been reported yet.
“Though there is no public health emergency situation yet, it is high time that we are vigilant against the fever outbreaks. We have been watching closely. Dengue fever is spreading in the areas where there are fresh water sources as the dengue vector breeds only in clean, stagnant water. Even indoor sources of stagnant water like refrigerator drip trays are enough for the Aedes species to breed,” he said.
‘’Prevention programmes are already underway against communicable diseases. Ward-based source-reduction activities are being carried out by several agencies. An increased fund of Rs 25,000 has been given to the panchayats for pre-monsoon preparations.
Above all, the people should take up vector control measures to prevent mosquito-breeding in their households. Indoor vector-breeding sources have been found wherever dengue cases were reported,” he added.
According to Dr B Unnikrishnan, District Programme Manager of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), vector control and foaming activities have been conducted in all the hospitals, primary health centres and wards in the district. The last three Sundays were observed as ‘Dry Days’ by preventing water-logging.