Jammu, Aug 8 : Jammu Municipal Corporation has launched a comprehensive three-month city-wide fogging and spraying drive covering all 75 wards as part of a preventive initiative to curb mosquito-borne diseases and protect public health, an official said on Saturday.
The drive, launched on the directions of JMC Commissioner Devansh Yadav on Friday, will continue till November 10 under the supervision of Health Officer Shahid Hussain, with fogging and spraying being carried out in phases across the city, the official said.
Last year, over 1,100 dengue cases were reported across the Jammu region, including 460 in Jammu district, down from 1,876 cases a year earlier, with the decline attributed to sustained anti-mosquito control measures, they said.
The commissioner urged citizens to extend full cooperation to JMC field teams and play an active role in preventing mosquito breeding.
He appealed to residents to ensure that water does not stagnate in and around their homes and to keep their surroundings clean, stressing that stagnant water provides ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes and increases the risk of dengue, chikungunya and malaria.
As part of the campaign, anti-mosquito spraying will be carried out during the early morning hours, while thermal fogging will be undertaken after 4 pm every day. The first round of the drive will cover all 75 wards as per the phased programme, the official said.
The JMC has advised citizens, particularly elderly persons and individuals with asthma or smoke allergies, to remain indoors during thermal fogging and keep doors and windows closed until the fog has cleared.
Residents have also been urged to regularly inspect and clean coolers, water containers, tyres, flowerpots, drains, rooftops and other places where water may accumulate, the official said.
The Corporation emphasised that eliminating stagnant water is one of the most effective measures to prevent mosquito breeding and reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
