The Hindu : New Delhi News : Elite institutions ‘challaned’ for mosquito breeding

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007
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New Delhi

Elite institutions ‘challaned’ for mosquito breeding

Staff Reporter

IIT, Modern School and St. Columba’s School in the dock

Mosquito breeding was previously detected at AIIMS, Safdarjung and G. B. Pant hospitals
So far, 3,800 “challans” have been issued to institutions where breeding has been detected.

NEW DELHI: St. Columba’s School, Modern School on Barakhamba Road and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, have been “challaned” by the State Health Department for failing to prevent mosquito breeding on their premises.

Public co-operation necessary

Despite the aggressive campaign to prevent diseases caused by mosquitoes, Health Minister Yoganand Shastri has said, the rising incidence of dengue and other ailments suggested that the Government initiative alone was not enough and that public co-operation was essential to combat these diseases.

Mosquito breeding was previously also detected at All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung Hospital and G. B. Pant Hospital. So far, 3,800 “challans” have been issued to institutions where breeding has been detected.

The Minister has instructed the Public Works Department to cover any open water tanks in Government colonies. According to the State Health Department, there has seen a rise in the incidence of cholera cases in the past 10 days.

The Capital has recorded 175 cholera cases in the past two weeks taking the total number of such cases to 673 this year.

This year, the Health Department has recorded seven cases of dengue, 91 cases of malaria and 11 cases of chikungunya so far.

Dr. Vineet Jain, senior paediatric consultant at Pushpanjali Hospitals, said: “Prevention is the best cure in the case of dengue. Apart from applying mosquito repellents, spraying any chemical substance that keeps mosquitoes away from home is advisable. Since aedes mosquitoes breed in clean water, we should ensure that water does not accumulate in and around our houses. Water tanks should be covered. Coolers should be cleaned weekly to check aedes mosquito breeding. Preventive measures become more important as there is no drug to treat dengue.”

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