Fogging in city began 12 days after first case was reported

It was only after 12 days since the first case of Zika virus disease surfaced on September 21 that the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) started fogging across the city. JMC started fogging across the city October 3 and is scheduled till October 25.

Sonia Agarwal, senior health officer, JMC, said that before October 3, JMC held fogging only in areas where citizens’ demand came from.

Even as the JMC scheduled fogging and went door to door listing symptoms of the disease, the city still faces the dangers of spread of the virus as solid and wet waste have been piled up at several areas that may become breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Waste collection has taken a hit due to a confusion between JMC and the company provided with the tender to collect and transport solid waste. The company claims that the amount of solid waste in the city is more than the agreed amount in the tender. Mohan Lal Yadav, commissioner, JMC, said the corporation can’t pay the company more than the agreed amount.

The JMC has assigned 250 teams across the city to look for symptoms, if any, of the disease among citizens, said JMC commissioner Mohanlal Yadav.

Almost 53 penalties ranging from ~200 to ~500 were imposed on premises where larvae growth was spotted. Ravindra Sharma, deputy commissioner (health), said penalties can be reimposed if larvae regrowth is found.

“Fogging takes place twice a day covering three wards at a time. Two vehicle mounted along with eight smaller portable machines are deployed for the same. However, three portable fogging machines have been deputed for eight wards where the Zika virus disease cases surfaced. Chemical Pyrethrum is being used to fog several areas in the ratio 1:19 with diesel,” Agarwal said. JMC officials, along with health officers, are also travelling door to door collecting blood samples from people in areas where positive cases of Zika have been reported.

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