Not just water cisterns, coolers at home are breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes; earthenware jars, water containers in kitchen, metal drums, as well as discarded plastic food containers can also be perfect breeding spots for the vector-borne disease. According to municipal health officials, stagnant and stored water could lead to production of aedes aegypti mosquitoes even as 60 per cent houses have been found positive for breeding this year.
Around 1,50,000 houses have been found positive for breeding by all three corporations. In North DMC's Karol Bagh zone alone, 208 houses have been founded positive for dengue breeding on Friday. Health officials have appeal to public to be more cautious and not store water as it can lead to breeding of aedes aegypti mosquito.
"When a person is tested positive for dengue, that person's house and its nearby areas are checked. This is a common practice by the MCD officials when a case of dengue is reported. This is basically done to ensure that people living around that also don't catch the dengue fever. Mostly people who have dengue are found to have mosquito breeding in their houses," said a North MCD official.
According to health officials, high dengue breeding has been found in water containers in kitchen, fridge tray at the base. The only way to prevent dengue is by tackling the deadly disease. "Mostly dengue breeding is found in fridge tray or clay pots for plants. There are many more spots in the house where these mosquitoes are found," said an health official in East Corporation.
"People need to be more vigilant and careful and ensure they don't store water anywhere. Following these few things can actually prevent dengue from spreading its tentacles," he added.
Around 60 per cent cases of dengue breeding has been found in houses, said officials.
According to municipal data, houses in Baljit Nagar, Prem Nagar, Nehru Nagar, West Patel Nagar, East Patel Nagar's lIG flat and Old and new Rajender Nagar are the worst affected areas as of now. The North Municipal Corporation, which has seen the worst dengue outbreak has found 498 houses positive for dengue breeding.
North Standing Committee chairperson Mohan Bhardwaj said there is a need to pay attention to the work places as well as residential areas as far as prevention of dengue and malaria is concerned. "Mosquito breeding in offices and work places is a serious concern and so the citizens' cooperation is essential in checking the breeding of the mosquitoes specially in household areas," Bhardwaj added.