By LITIA
MATHEWSELL

Municipal councils in the Western Division have joined the fight against dengue by organising a ‘Free Clean Up Dengue Campaign’.
Lautoka, Ba and Tavua special administrator Praveen Bala is urging residents in these municipalities to join the campaign and place material that is likely to retain water and breed mosquitoes at convenient places for pick up.
These include empty cans, bottles, unused tires, empty drums, coconut shells and discarded household utensils.
“The increase in mosquitoes is an indication that there are potential mosquito breeding grounds around us and residents are requested to take advantage of the campaign by thoroughly cleaning up their compounds,” Mr Bala said in a statement.
Lautoka, Ba and Tavua residents are required to place items for removal at convenient places for pick-up beginning from today, with the collection to commence from Monday.
Mr Bala said discarded items for pick-up would not include green waste such as tree cuttings and weeds.
“There is an influx in the mosquito population and urgent action is required to control the mosquitoes.
“They are a threat to our health so please be responsible for the cleanliness of your environment.”
According to the Ministry of Health, the Western Pacific is among three worldwide areas that currently give travellers an increased risk of catching dengue.
The others are South East Asia and the east coast areas of central and South America.