Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Sep 6: With the northeast monsoon just weeks away, Tambaram Corporation has stepped up dengue prevention measures by deploying around 700 mosquito breeding control workers across its 70 wards to identify and eliminate breeding sites before the rains intensify.

According to corporation officials, the workers inspected more than 1.2 lakh houses over the past week and destroyed over 4,500 potential mosquito breeding sources.

The breeding sites included stagnant pools of water, discarded tyres, coconut shells, garden pots and water accumulated on rooftops.

Abate larvicide is being used in overhead water tanks and other stagnant water sources to prevent mosquito larvae from developing.

Fogging operations are also being conducted daily using vehicle-mounted and handheld machines at bus stands, markets, schools and other locations where water is prone to stagnation.

Special fever camps are being organised in coordination with the health department to screen residents and detect dengue and other fever cases at an early stage.

Corporation Commissioner S Balachander said health department officials had also begun issuing notices to owners of vacant plots, locked or vacant houses and new construction sites where stagnant water or other conditions could facilitate mosquito breeding.

"Under Section 61 of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939, owners who fail to address such conditions will be fined. The corporation will also undertake cleaning work and recover the cost from the owner," he said.

Health officials have advised residents to regularly clean and scrub water storage containers and tanks and keep them tightly covered. They have also urged people to ensure that water does not stagnate in and around their homes.

The corporation has intensified surveillance and preventive measures as the northeast monsoon approaches, with officials stressing the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding sites before rainfall increases the risk of dengue transmission.