The National Dengue Control Unit, in partnership with a private institute, has stepped into produce locally, the dengue vector control agent, Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), to cut down the heavy costs involved in importing the dengue control spray from China.
“We have asked Bio Power Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., to give us a time-frame when it can start producing the Bti to meet our demands,” Community Specialist at the National Dengue Eradication Unit, Dr. Priscilla Samaraweera said.
The company promoting sustainable agriculture in the country, has begun producing the Bti locally and had sought government approval to supply the control agent at a lower cost. The import of the Cuban patented Bti from China costs the Government millions of rupees annually.
Dr. Samaraweera said they may use the Chinese product and the local one for fogging and ground spraying to destroy mosquito breeding grounds.
Weighed down by the rapid spread of the disease and the rising numbers of fatalities, the Health Ministry is also exploring the possibility of importing a
a new Bacterium known as ‘Wolbachia’ from Australia to combat the menace.
It is a natural bacterium present in 60% of all species of insects around us. The pilot project funded by the Australian government is expected to be carried out in the near future.