Pune: Mosquito breeding grounds in over 2.60 lakh properties across the city have been destroyed by the Health Department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) since June 19. However, the breeding of dengue mosquitoes is still a grave concern, as the city has registered over 4,514 cases till Saturday. Officials from the Insect Control Department at PMC said, “We have been surveying various public and private properties in the city since June 19 and have served over 6,676 notices. It must be understood that mosquito breeding can happen anywhere and people must take care.”
Kalpana Baliwant, head of the Insect Control Department at PMC, said that fogging is used to kill adult mosquitoes infected with dengue virus.
“A female adult mosquito lays a total of 450 eggs in her lifetime. If she is infected with dengue, then all the eggs she lays are also infected with dengue. Hence, eliminating these infected adult mosquitoes is important for which fogging is very efficient,” she added.
Baliwant said that even as PMC carries out fogging inside the homes for free, 90 per cent residents do not allow fogging inside the homes, which is a major problem.
“People are fine if fogging is carried out in ducts, parking areas or gardens but most do not allow it inside their homes,” she added.
According to the details with PMC, this week alone, Pune has registered 395 cases of suspected dengue cases while the total number of confirmed dengue cases registered till Saturday has been 1,179. Though the Insect Control Department of PMC has been surveying various areas to address the issue of mosquitoe breeding, little seems to have been achieved so far.
Fogging is must
† Areas with maximum dengue patients include Yerwada, Dhanori, Dhole Patil Road, Bhavanipeth, Kasbapeth, Hadapsar and Mundhwa.
† Once dengue mosquito breeding is found, notices are served. After issuing notices, they randomly check the same location within 10 to 15 days.
† If the mosquito breeding is still found, then there is a fine imposed or a legal case is filed, they added.
PMC officials also highlighted the reluctance of residents to allow fogging inside their homes.