SDMC issues advisory on prevention of vector-borne diseases

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) today issued an advisory seeking help of its different departments and the public to contain vector-borne diseases.
"There is a need to pay special attention to educational institutions and work places as 65 per cent of dengue cases last year were reported among the people between the age of 15 and 45," said SDMC commissioner P K Goyal.
The advisory to the heads of educational institutions and government offices recommends that overhead tanks and other water containers should be properly covered and there should be no unattended collection of water in and around the premises.

The heads of departments of SDMC have been asked to appoint nodal officers to ensure for compliance with the advisory.
People are advised to go for NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) designed room coolers which prevents mosquito breeding instead of ordinary desert coolers, Goyal said.
All coolers should be cleaned once a week and mopped dry before refilling, he said, adding that one tablespoon of Tempos granules or petrol must be put in the water of those coolers which cannot be emptied.

The failure to take preventive measures is punishable with a fine up to Rs 500 under the Delhi Municipal Corporation byelaws 1975 on malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

The commissioner also called upon RWAs, market associations andgeneral public to take preventive measures, failing which, the dengue and chikungunya outbreak may become "uncontrollable".
Aedes aegypti mosquitos that cause dengue breed mainly on collection of clean water in desert coolers, uncovered storage containers and old tyres.