Panchkula: With the onset of the monsoon and the heightened risk of vector-borne diseases, the Panchkula health department has intensified preventive measures by deploying 790 Domestic Breeder Checker (DBC) volunteers for door-to-door inspections to identify mosquito breeding sites across the district.During inspections, mosquito larvae have been detected in stored water containers at several locations. The department has issued notices to households where larvae were found and advised residents to eliminate stagnant water.To strengthen preparedness, authorities have constituted 32 source reduction teams, set up a 20-bed special ward at Civil Hospital and stepped up surveillance in vulnerable areas to curb the spread of dengue and malaria.Kalka, Pinjore, Surajpur, Nanakpur and Barwala have been placed under enhanced monitoring after being identified as high-risk zones due to waterlogging and favourable mosquito breeding conditions. Anti-larval operations have been intensified, with teams inspecting brick kilns, poultry farms and other vulnerable locations.The development comes amid dengue cases being reported in the district.Health officials said water scarcity in parts of Kalka and Pinjore has led residents to store water in containers, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Special sanitation and awareness drives are also being conducted in Surajpur and Nanakpur, where accumulated scrap and stagnant water have increased the risk of mosquito breeding.The department has held meetings with village panchayats and industrial units, directing them to strengthen cleanliness measures and remove potential breeding sites.Civil Hospital has enhanced its diagnostic preparedness, with officials stating that 1,000 to 1,200 suspected cases are examined every month.With July to September being the peak season for dengue and malaria transmission, the health department has urged residents to regularly clean coolers, overhead tanks and other water-storage containers, prevent water stagnation around homes and seek immediate medical attention in case of fever.
