Madhubani: The state health department on Monday launched the first round of the indoor residual spray (IRS) campaign in the district to prevent and control kala-azar.District vector-borne disease control officer Dr D S Singh said the IRS drive started on Monday and is being carried out in selected villages where kala-azar cases were reported last year. The aim of the campaign is to destroy sand flies, the insects responsible for transmitting the disease.According to officials, the spraying work in the first phase is being conducted in one identified village each in five blocks of the district—Kaluahi, Basopatti, Jhanjharpur, Ghoghardiha and Madhepur. These villages were selected based on last year’s reported cases so that potential sources of infection can be controlled in time.Officials said kala-azar spreads through the bite of infected sand flies. As part of the campaign, trained teams are visiting houses and spraying insecticide on interior walls and corners to eliminate the vectors.Vector-borne disease control official Purushottam Kumar appealed to residents to cooperate with the teams by keeping their rooms open during the spraying. He also advised people not to touch or wash the sprayed walls for several hours to ensure the insecticide remains effective.The health department has urged residents to remain alert and seek medical attention if symptoms such as prolonged fever, weight loss or weakness appear.
