COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore corporation launched “Operation Shield – Multi-Dimensional Activities against Dengue” in Ward 70 of the central zone on Tuesday to curb mosquito-borne transmission of the disease. The initiative aims at enforcing intensive surveillance and rapid vector containment across high-risk residential areas.Under Operation Shield, municipal health teams execute four key pillars: Household inspection, larval source monitoring, public awareness drives and fogging/anti-larval action. These measures are deployed within a 10km radius of every inpatient registered at urban primary health centres, creating a swift, localised defence to prevent further disease transmission.As part of the operation, 7,087 houses were inspected, and 18,242 containers were checked, of which 157 houses and 228 containers were found to be larvae-positive. As many as five fever cases were detected during the camps organised in 16 wards on Tuesday. As control measures, fogging was done for 20 km. Based on the inspection, the Breteau Index (BI) was found to be 3.4. The BI counts the number of positive water-holding containers with mosquito larvae or pupae per 100 houses inspected.According to the corporation, the dengue-spreading Aedes mosquito can fly up to around 500 metres. Under Operation Shield, intensive mosquito-control measures have been carried out within a 10km radius of areas where fever cases are detected.City health officer Dr V.C. Subash Gandhi said, “The exercise is aimed at creating a protective ring and preventing mosquitoes from spreading infection to new localities.”Special attention is being given to locations where fever cases have been reported. Indoor and outdoor fogging, larvicide application and continuous inspections of houses and water-storage containers are being undertaken in these areas.During field visits, residents are being advised to seek immediate medical attention if they develop fever or symptoms associated with dengue.He further stated that health and sanitation workers are conducting door-to-door inspections to identify and remove discarded tyres, plastic items, coconut shells and other objects that could collect stagnant water.The corporation has urged people to prevent water stagnation in and around their houses. Residents have also been advised to use mosquito repellents and promptly consult a doctor if they experience fever or dengue symptoms.EOM
