BTI aerial spraying in Colombo

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Health Ministry decided to appoint a special committee to investigate the use of BT bacteria to combat the spread of dengue.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr Nihal Jayathilake will appoint the special panel on Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena’s instructions, a ministry spokesman said.

The government decided to aerial spray the Cuban BTI bacteria in several areas of the Colombo district on March 15. The spokesman said the ministry is to aerial spray the BTI bacteria in Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Kolonnawa Municipal Council areas next month.

The government spends around Rs 225 million for aerial spraying of the BTI once in three areas.

Minister Sirisena explained to President Mahinda Rajapaksa that a large sum would be required to spray the bacteria aerially islandwide. Aerial spraying only once will not be sufficient for a proper evaluation. It should be carried out a minimum three times.

The government has to spend a huge sum on this effort and it is not practical, the minister said. “The life span of a single spray is only two weeks and will not be effective. The BTI bacteria will not harm the bio - diversity as other pesticides. The BTI bacteria to combat the spread of dengue is used in the Galle Municipal area successfully.

The Health Ministry is of the opinion that the BTI bacteria could be utilised to combat the spread of dengue in areas where the density of mosquitoes are high,” the spokesman said.