Delhi: MCD intensifies fight against mosquitoes with 121.5L house visits

The MCD has ramped up its anti-mosquito drive in Delhi, with health workers conducting 121.5 lakh household visits in April. The campaign includes insecticide spraying, releasing fish, and issuing over 16,000 legal notices for breeding sites.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified its efforts to curb mosquito-borne diseases, carrying out large-scale surveillance and preventive measures across the capital.

According to the release issued by MCD, around 4,100 MTS employees from the Public Health Department conducted 121.5 lakh household visits between April 1 and April 30 to inspect potential mosquito breeding sites. During this period, anti-mosquito insecticide was sprayed in 79,298 homes, while larvivorous fish were released at 231 identified locations.

Intensive Surveillance and Preventive Actions

The Public Health Department is spraying anti-larval medication in drains, water bodies, and similar areas on a weekly basis.

MCD's Public Health Department is conducting special inspection drives at potential mosquito breeding sites, including Maalkhanas, construction sites, schools, residential colonies, water bodies, drains, etc., and to date, 8 such special campaigns have been carried out.

Legal Enforcement and Penalties

Acting under the provisions of the DMC Act, 1957, and the Malaria and Vector-Borne Diseases Bye-laws the Public Health Department has issued 16,261 legal notices and imposed 856 challans in instances where mosquito breeding was detected.

Public Awareness and Engagement

MCD's Public Health Department is conducting various public awareness campaigns to aid in the prevention of mosquito breeding.

The Public Health Department has organised 3,582 RWA meetings and 1,392 rallies. Additionally, the department has affixed 7,002 stickers and displayed 1,792 banners.

WhatsApp groups are being operated in every ward to address complaints regarding mosquito breeding.

Coordination and Resources

The Public Health Department is organising inter-departmental coordination meetings to prevent mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya. A meeting of Malaria Supervisors was held on February 20 to discuss malaria eradication efforts, followed by a technical meeting of entomologists on February 26.

The release stated that the Public Health Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi possesses an ample stock of anti-mosquito and anti-larval agents such as MLO, Temephos granules, Bifenthrin, Diflubenzuron, etc., to combat mosquito breeding.

High Rainfall Impact and Citizen Advisory

The Public Health Department has appealed to citizens not to allow water to stagnate in their surroundings.

Mosquito-borne diseases spread primarily due to mosquito breeding in waterlogged areas.

According to the Public Health Department, 30 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in April this year, the highest amount of rainfall witnessed in the month of April over the last 18 years. In contrast, only 0.7 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in April 2025. The above-average rainfall in April 2026 occurred in short, intermittent spells and has created conditions highly conducive to mosquito breeding.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi appeals to citizens to contribute towards the campaign against mosquito-borne diseases and advises citizens to keep open water containers covered and ensure that water tanks are securely closed and drain & clean water coolers at least once a week. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)