HYDERABAD: The number of dengue cases have risen to around 77 from January to September compared to the same time-period last year in the state.
Officials of the health department asked people to take measures to clear stagnant water in and around their houses so that it doesn’t become a breeding ground for aedes mosquito.
Apart from Dengue, Aedes mosquito is responsible for the spread of Zika, and Chikungunya.
This has put officials on tenterhooks as they are wary of serious health complication that adults and newborns would suffer if Zika virus infects people in the state.
State additional director of National Vector Borne Disease Programme, Dr S Prabhavathi said that they were conducting anti-larva operations, clearing vessels of water, or other places where there is stagnant water.
“Cleaning tyres is a tough job as water remains, even if we try to clean it. Five ml of water is enough for the mosquito to breed. So, we have cut tyres into pieces,” Prabhavathi said, adding that they use pyrethrum spray and temephos tablet.
However, she urged public to keep their premises clean to avoid any chance for spread of the diseases.
In one such anti-larvae operation taken up two months ago at a tiny hamlet in Karimnagar where 136 dengue cases were reported, officials found that there were tyres, plastic cups and coconut shells strewn around.
Fined for stagnant water
A few commercial establishments such as scrap shops in the city limits were imposed fines of up to `3,000 when GHMC’s entomologists found stagnant water where mosquitoes were breeding.
However, officials said that though there are rules (Municipal Bylaws) according to which people can be fined if mosquito breeding grounds are found at their homes, the rule has not been implemented.
“Only around five shops were shelled with the fine,” said an official.
In Mumbai, actor Shahid Kapoor was served a notice in September third-week by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation after its insecticide team found Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding spots at the actor’s house.