Joint Intensive Effort to Combat the Aedes Aegypti in Muscat
Muscat Municipality continues its intensive efforts to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Muscat, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and other competent authorities, according to a schedule that will cover all the wilayat of Seeb, Mutrah and Bousher.
The campaign aims to eradicate the mosquito and its breeding sites through investigation and exploration programmes carried out on an ongoing basis, in addition to focusing on fighting the incubators for the growth of mosquito larvae.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito multiplies through female mosquitoes that lay eggs in stagnant water, causing spread of infections of Dengue fever, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. Dengue fever is one of the viral diseases transmitted by the female Aedes aegypti, the symptoms of which are (fever, headache, severe fatigue, skin rash, digestive upset, joint and muscle pain).
Preventive measures
Control methods depend on taking preventive measures such as installing nets that prevent insects from entering through home windows, getting rid of old tires and containers and small pots in which water collects. Prevention can also be done by constantly cleaning fountains and sealing leaks from sewage vents, and taking care of regular maintenance of drinking water coolers and cleaning them.
Methods of control
The methods of combating Aedes aegypti implemented by the task forces varies by engineering, biological and chemical control.
Engineering control gets rid of the causes of mosquito breeding, such as cleaning and drying basins, fountains, food and drink bowls of animals or birds, and getting rid of the accumulation of waste and building materials inside the house.
The teams also use pesticides as chemical control for the breeding grounds of the larvae. A number of modern devices and equipment are used, such as thermal (smoke) and cold (micro-spray) fogging machines, and pyrethroidic pesticides, which are approved by the World Health Organization, in addition to silicone oil, which acts as a surface insulator above the water.
The need for cooperation
Muscat Municipality urges community members to allow task teams to enter homes, facilities, residential units so they can conduct control operations.
Awareness efforts
These efforts stem from Muscat Municipality obligation to maintain the health and safety of community members and to combat sources of pathogens, as well as to strengthen the preventive and awareness aspect in preventing the spread of diseases.
Community solidarity
Muscat Municipality stresses the need to exert integrated efforts to make this campaign a success, and calls on not to spread rumours and join hands with work teams to achieve the ultimate goal of this campaign. The municipality also calls on all citizens and residents in the areas of South and North Mubielah, North and South Hayl, South Al-Mawalih, Al Khoud, Sur al Hadid, and the wilayahs of Mutrah and Buousher to cooperate with the control teams and facilitate their entry into homes, noting that the campaign will begin from May 17, 2023 to May 28, 2023 during the morning (from 7 am to 11 pm), and the evening period (from 3 to 6 pm).