2-week mosquito control campaign starts in Muscat
Muscat Municipality, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and other competent authorities, started a campaign on Wednesday to prevent the spread of mosquitoes, especially Aedes Aegypti, in the wilayats of Seeb, Muttrah and Bausher. The campaign will continue till May 28.
The municipality urged community members to allow task teams to enter homes, facilities and residential units so that they can conduct pest control operations.
‘Muscat Municipality stresses the need to exert collective efforts to make this campaign a success, and calls on the public to join hands with work teams to achieve the ultimate goal of this campaign,’ the civic body stated.
It added that these efforts stem from Muscat Municipality’s obligation to maintain the health and safety of communities, combat sources of pathogens, and enhance awareness on preventing the spread of vector borne diseases.
The municipality called on all citizens and residents in North and South Mabelah, North and South Hail, South Mawaleh, Al Khoud, Sur al Hadid, and the wilayats of Muttrah and Bausher, to allow work teams into their homes from 7am to 11pm and 3pm to 6pm.
The campaign aims to prevent the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and its breeding sites through investigation and eradication programmes carried out on an ongoing basis.
Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, spreading diseases like dengue fever and yellow fever and the Zika virus.
The mosquito can be recognised by black and white markings on its legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the upper surface of its thorax.
Dengue fever spreads through female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after they bite an infected person. The virus infects the mosquito’s mid-gut and subsequently spreads to the salivary glands over a period of 8-12 days. After this incubation period, the virus can be transmitted to humans.
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, mostly in disposed containers left outdoors.
The Ministry of Health has urged people to take necessary steps to eliminate mosquito breeding sites by covering water tanks properly and cleaning these every five days. The ministry advised disposal of water from air conditioners, changing water of fountains and swimming pools every five days, and to monitor water reservoirs for agricultural purposes regularly.
It also advised changing water kept in containers for animals and birds every five days.
‘Used tyres, empty cans and damaged household utensils should be disposed appropriately,’ it further added.