Dengue Alert: Bhubaneswar Fights Mosquito Menace

As monsoon rains spread fears of a potential dengue outbreak, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has rolled out a proactive action plan to combat mosquito breeding across the city. This initiative involves extensive community engagement, with calls for apartment societies, resident welfare associations (RWAs), and civil society groups to actively participate in awareness campaigns and source reduction efforts.

BMC officials are conducting household surveys to pinpoint and destroy mosquito breeding sites, supported by trained dengue volunteers who will also conduct community sensitization. To broaden its reach, the BMC is utilizing various communication channels, including radio jingles, social media, and FM radio talks. A designated 'dry day' in each ward will encourage residents to eliminate stagnant water from their premises, while rallies involving local representatives and health workers are planned for each ward.

Key industrial and commercial entities, including Idco, MSME, and estate departments, have been instructed to implement source reduction measures on their premises. Commercial establishments will be required to report dengue cases, and market associations are urged to take proactive cleaning steps. Past dengue hotspots such as Patia, Saheed Nagar, Salia Sahi, Nayapalli, IRC Village, Niladrivihar, and Prasanti Vihar will receive special focus. Chemical fogging is expected to commence soon as weather conditions stabilize, targeting industrial clusters, offices, and parks identified as significant mosquito breeding grounds during the monsoon season through October.