Notice Sent to Courts Asking Them to Stop Courting Mosquitoes

Those who uphold the law often end up violating the rule themselves - and certainly so when it comes to mosquitoes in the Indian capital.

The local authorities have sent notices to the Delhi High Court, Patiala House courts and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for breeding mosquitoes, the carrier of the dreaded dengue and chikungunya fevers.

Health officials said that during their field visits they have found mosquito breeding grounds in the court premises, the campuses of several leading hospitals and several government establishments in the city.

"During our routine visit we found mosquitoes breeding in several rooms in the high court campus and have sent four notices to them," said R.N. Singh, chief medical officer (CMO) of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

"Similarly, a few notices have been despatched to the Patiala House court complex. So far we have sent 125 notices to several organisations, including government establishments for breeding mosquitoes," Singh told IANS.

NDMC has sent notices to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the caretakers of India Gate, the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, an engineer of the Central Public Works Department and many individuals over the last few weeks.

"Since the city has recorded few cases of dengue, we don't want to take any chance. Around 270 health workers are conducting field visits and surprise checks to stop the breeding of aedes mosquitoes," he said.

Elaborating on their field visit, the CMO said they were mainly targeting coolers, flowerpots, roof top water tanks, and any possible place capable of holding water for a longer time.

This year Delhi has reported one confirmed case of dengue and another of chikungunya almost a month earlier than their usual date with the national capital. Last year the city had witnessed over 3,366 cases of dengue.

Deepak, a 15-year-old boy tested positive for dengue at the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital earlier this month. This disease manifests itself with a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains and rashes on the lower part of the chest.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials said that due to rain, dengue has raised its head in mid-June as against its usual arrival time in end July. The civic body has already sent over 1,200 notices to people so far for breeding mosquitoes.

"Our officials have detected 10,000 mosquito breeding spots and are sending notices to the offenders," municipal health officer N.K. Yadav said.

Yadav said the Delhi health ministry has already set up a monitoring committee consisting of members from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), district health officials and NGOs and residents' welfare associations to prevent the spread of mosquito breeding.

"We are also taking the help of elected representatives of MCD wards and NGOs to spread awareness among the masses. We are also urging residents to check mosquito breeding at their homes. Especially, people should take care of the stagnant water inside their coolers both at home and office," he advised.

"Since the upcoming monsoon is the season for mosquito breeding we need be extra cautious," he said.

Source-IANS
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