New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) With monsoon around the corner and the capital reporting 162 dengue cases so far this year, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday launched a citywide awareness and fogging drive to curb spread of vector-borne diseases.
As part of the drive, Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi flagged off 100 auto-rickshaws equipped with fogging machines, banners and pamphlets that will travel across all 250 municipal wards to spread awareness about the prevention of dengue, malaria and chikungunya.
Speaking at the campaign launch, Wahi said the civic body is stepping up preparedness ahead of monsoon, adding that the awareness vehicles would carry public health messages to every part of the city and complement the corporation’s ongoing field inspections and anti-mosquito measures.
According to the MCD’s weekly vector-borne disease report, Delhi has recorded 162 dengue cases, 42 malaria cases and nine chikungunya cases so far this year. The city generally witnesses a spike in such diseases during and after the monsoon, which typically reaches Delhi by the end of June or first week of July.
Among the civic zones, West has reported the highest number of dengue cases at 29, followed by Central (21) and Civil Lines (20). The West zone has also recorded the highest malaria burden, with 14 cases reported so far.
The mayor appealed to residents to adopt what he described as a “Cover, Clean and Keep Dry” strategy to check mosquito breeding.
“We must keep water tanks and containers covered, maintain cleanliness in our surroundings and ensure that water does not stagnate around our homes,” Wahi said.
Officials said the campaign also includes intensified fogging operations and public outreach activities as part of the civic body’s pre-monsoon preparedness plan.
The mayor said the MCD is committed to making Delhi “clean, hygienic and green” and would continue efforts to strengthen public participation in disease prevention measures across the capital. PTI MSJ ARB
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.