Daijiworld Media Network - Rajkot

Rajkot, Sep 25: The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has identified 4,731 potential mosquito breeding sites across 59.39 sq km through drone-based surveys and AI-assisted surveillance as part of measures to control dengue, malaria and chikungunya in the city.

According to data released by the civic body on Friday, field staff have so far covered 1,340 of the identified locations for insecticide spraying and source-reduction measures. Drones have also carried out insecticide spraying for a total of 40 hours and nine minutes.

The survey is being conducted in high-risk wards, including Wards 11, 18, 3, 4 and 13. The areas covered so far account for 59.39 sq km of the RMC's total jurisdiction of 161.85 sq km.

Drone surveys are being conducted over drains, waterlogged areas, small and large pits, depressions in riverbed areas and other locations that could potentially become mosquito breeding grounds.

The civic body said the technology is being used particularly in locations where conventional insecticide spraying is difficult or could pose a risk to workers.

Information collected through the drone surveys is shared with health workers in the respective wards and urban health centres. The teams then verify the identified locations and undertake insecticide spraying and source-reduction measures wherever required.

Alongside the drone-based surveillance and spraying, the RMC continued its conventional vector-control measures between September 17 and 23.

Field workers, Urban ASHAs and MPHWs carried out larvicidal activities at 1,50,172 houses, while fogging operations were conducted at 933 houses.

Vehicle-mounted fogging machines were deployed in areas reporting higher mosquito density. Sensitive residential societies, public roads and places witnessing large gatherings were also covered under the fogging drive.

The health department also inspected 409 non-residential premises for possible mosquito breeding. These included construction sites, schools, hospitals, hotels, industrial units, hostels, residential and commercial complexes, scrap yards, cellars, halls, wadis, party plots, religious places, petrol pumps and government offices.

Notices were issued to 312 persons in residential areas and 92 in commercial areas after mosquito breeding sites were detected. Action included recovery of administrative charges under the applicable bylaws.

The civic body said dengue prevention efforts also involve inspections of houses, shops, apartments, commercial complexes, industrial units and other establishments, with particular attention to containers and other places where stagnant water can provide breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.

Separately, the municipal health department conducted surveillance for water-borne diseases through field staff attached to urban primary health centres.

Between September 17 and 23, around 3,04,556 people were covered under the water-borne disease surveillance exercise. During the campaign, health teams distributed 6,559 chlorine tablets and 743 ORS packets and conducted 3,484 R.C. tests.

The civic body has urged residents to prevent water from accumulating in and around their homes and cooperate with health teams in identifying and eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

Residents have also been advised to maintain drinking-water hygiene and consume water only after boiling or proper purification.

The RMC further appealed to citizens to cooperate with health department teams during drone-based surveys aimed at identifying mosquito breeding sites.