Dengue mosquito larvae at 2,833 sites

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Officials detected 2,833 sites with dengue mosquito larvae while taking legal action against 1,313 persons who had dengue mosquito breeding sites on the second day of the National Mosquito Control Week, a Health Ministry spokesman said. According to the spokesman, inspectors detected 36,316 potential dengue mosquito breeding sites during inspections out of 67,055 places and issued warnings to owners of those places. They were ordered to clean them within two weeks.

The National Mosquito Control Week commenced on June 20 and will end on June 26. During this week, the health authorities inspect potential mosquito breeding sites countrywide with the assistance of armed forces, police, civil defence committees and government officials. Entomological surveyors and studies are also to be carried out countrywide during the week, he said.

Meanwhile, W P Dharmasena our Matara Group Correspondent reported that authorized buildings and structures has transformed Gabada Veediya junction in Matara into a mosquito breeding ground.

This has happened because past Municipal Council authorities had turned a blind eye towards unauthorized buildings put up in the area, said Security Forces officers handling Matara city development work.

Officers said the storm water drainage system along Station Road and Hakmana Road had been clogged and could not be cleaned as jutting out unauthorized structures obstructed the drains.