The health minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, on Friday is holding a review meeting to discuss ways to check the rising number of dengue cases in the national capital ahead of the Commonwealth Games, an official said.
"With the outbreak of dengue creating jitters, a high-level meeting with officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and civic body has been organised to discuss and intensify measures to control the disease," a senior Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official told IANS.
According to the MCD, 67 new cases of dengue were reported on Thursday, taking the total number in teh city to 1,081. Three people have died of the disease so far.
MCD sources said the meeting would discuss new ways to check dengue like using a special colourless paint, synthetic Pyrethroid, at all sports and training venues of the Commonwealth Games.
Pyrethorid, which has insect repellant properties, is used in many countries to combat vector-borne diseases and is said to be harmless to human beings. The paint is said to safeguard people against mosquitoes and insect bites for a period of 12 weeks.
"On a trial basis, the walls of the Games village near Akshardham temple, where delegates and athletes will reside, were given a coat of this special painting. It shows good results. Senior officials have directed that the paint be used on the walls of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be held," the MCD official told IANS.
The chemical is procured from a Mumbai-based private firm.
"With just 30 days left for the event, several Games venues, including the Village, are found to have become breeding sites for mosquitoes. Hope the paint does all the magic and wards off mosquitoes," said MCD working committee chairman Jagdish Mamgain.