Community participation and local authority support for dengue control

Tuesday, 30 June 2026 05:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Typical flight distance of the dengue mosquito is from 50 to 400m depending on the wind etc. This means that if every household eliminates standing water and other potential areas within about 100–200 metres, the local mosquito population can be greatly reduced. Community cleaning campaigns are effective because they are able to remove many breeding sites within the normal flying range. Everyone must think and join campaigns to clean not only your house but neighbouring houses.

While imposing fines and legal actions are good to get people clean, we must also think why they do not clean. Other than sheer negligence, there are vulnerable groups such as elderly, blind, disabled, sick or not having money to pay for outside help.

While volunteer groups and religious groups can have permanent disaster management task forces, the local authorities can have volunteer or paid groups. I remember my brother once telling me in Sydney, how the city council will clean up and charge the household if warnings are ignored.

Nihal Cooray

Kolonnawa