At last BTI to fight dengue

Dinesh De Alwis

A locally made Bacteria named Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI) has been introduced by the Industrial Technical Institute (ITI) to fight dengue.

It will be commercially released to the market this month, ITI Senior Research Officer Dr. Sadhika Samarasekara told a media briefing at the Government Information Department yesterday.

This can also be used to destroy mosquitoes spreading malaria, filaria and Japanese encephalitis. The locally produced BTI bacteria will be released to the Sri Lankan market as 100 ml and 200 ml spray bottles from this month. BTI mixed liquid should be directly applied to the water where mosquito larvae develop, she said.

Bio Power Lanka Ltd has been appointed as commercial distributor of the product and they are able to produce 15,000 litres per month. Ten litre and four litre cans will be available for Municipal Council and Pradeshiya Saba usage.

Over 35,000 dengue cases have been reported and 346 patients have died last year. A total of 19,000 dengue cases have been reported and 140 have died so far this year.