In a novel method to control the mosquito menace, the district health department of Dehradun is providing breeding grounds (controlled sources) to the mosquitoes. Termed ‘Source Creation for larva trap’ these controlled sources would be regularly monitored and later destroyed along with the larvae. The department has involved 350 Asha workers in this unique first of its kind project. This simple concept is designed by the district vector borne diseases officer, JP Bahuguna. Explaining the meaning of the controlled source, he said that the Asha workers have been asked to put 10-15 litres of water in an open container or buckets at their homes and monitor it regularly. He said that the department is also undertaking a large scale source reduction programme in different parts of the city. In it the prospective breeding grounds of mosquito especially Aedes are being identified and destroyed by means of drying/decanting of the source, use of insecticide and extensive fogging. Bahuguna informed that with continuous source reduction activities, the Asha workers would create controlled sources so that the mosquitoes in search of breeding place settle there and lay eggs. “One female Aedes mosquito lays about 200 eggs at one time and in its entire life breeds five to seven times. We have created 400 controlled sources in different parts of the city and if we are able to destroy about 400 eggs in one controlled source at a time then we can prevent about 4 lakh mosquitoes in one cycle in the city,’’ he claimed.
With creation of controlled sources the health officials would also be able to get vital information about density of mosquitoes from the larval population in any particular area and devise strategy on mosquito borne disease.
Meanwhile the large scale source reduction of Aedes last year and the extensive awareness campaign informing residents about ways to control mosquito population is coming handy this year.
Dehradun district reported 1434 cases of Dengue last year, a quantum increase from 829 cases reported in the year 2015. The health department officials claim that not even a single case of dengue has been reported this year till date while more than 100 cases were reported till date last year.