A recent study conducted by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has revealed that 80% of dengue cases in the city occur in south Kolkata, while 20% occur in north Kolkata. This is due to the fact that breeding grounds, such as vacant lands, under-construction buildings, and water bodies, are more prevalent in South Kolkata. It has been found that the areas under Borough 8 to 14, including Gariahat, Chetla, Southern Avenue, and Bhelaha, are particularly vulnerable to dengue.
To combat the problem, the KMC has taken several measures. Notices have been issued to 2,100 homeowners who were found to have mosquito larvae in their water reservoirs and overhead tanks between January and April 2023, asking them to clean the water. The civic authority has also filed cases against 26 homeowners who refused to comply. The court can issue a fine ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs1 lakh.
The KMC has also set up 930 vector control teams to cover 144 wards, as well as 16 borough rapid action teams and 16 central rapid action teams, to visit hospital campuses, police stations, commercial establishments, and marketplaces as part of a dengue prevention drive. The civic authority has requested people not to throw garbage in vacant lands through the public address system and is training field workers to identify larvae and use the right techniques to spray mosquito repellent.
The KMC has blood collection facilities in every ward and is urging people to get tested if they are suffering from fever. With these measures, the KMC hopes to control the spread of dengue in the vulnerable areas of Kolkata.
