BTI bacteria raises questions

18 March 2010 02:30 pm - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Indika Sri Aravinda

The Health Ministry has raised serious questions over the use of Bacillus Thuriengiensis (BTI) bacteria which is used to counter the larva of the dengue mosquito stating that it could have an adverse and a dangerous impact on the environment.

Officials at the Ministry told Daily Mirror online that although it was not ‘too keen’ in importing the BTI, they had received orders from the ‘top’ to go ahead with using the bacteria.

However the officials said that the bacteria could destroy the lava of indigenous Sri Lankan butterflies and have a great impact on the eco system.

“Despite the orders to go ahead, we need to further test this bacteria and are awaiting a report from the Cuban mission in Colombo regarding its quality,” the official said.

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry had earlier last year said that both BTI bacteria produced in Sri Lanka and Cuba would be used as a subsidiary strategy to destroy dengue mosquito larvae.

The Ministry had later decided to import the Cuban made BTI bacteria to destroy the dengue mosquito’s larvae as dengue was spreading rapidly in most parts of the country.

According to statistics, more than 9000 cases of dengue have already been reported isalndwide this year. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 16

Thursday, 18 March 2010 03:17 PM

question and wait until suck out all the nation by this dengue epidemic, which one they choose butter fly or human beans don't wait until slow all the country ....

Thursday, 18 March 2010 03:30 PM

What has Patali Champuka got to say?

Thursday, 18 March 2010 03:55 PM

BUTTER FLIES OR MOSQUITOES????, YOU DECIDE

Thursday, 18 March 2010 04:21 PM

This Minister is palying with BTI bacteria from Central Provicial PC election. you proves the biggest mouth piese in Sri Lanka.

Thursday, 18 March 2010 09:17 PM

How stupid is this? I've been studying dengue for my BSc and know that the BTI strain is administered to water - butterflies do not lay their eggs in water. BTI is only effective at the larval stage of the lifecycle of the mosquito and it has NO EFFECT on the butterfly's lifecycle!

Friday, 19 March 2010 12:47 AM

health ministry to need a weight on human life and butterflies. We can test knowledge of health ministry decision about a simple question

Friday, 19 March 2010 01:45 AM

Reason is NOT the adverse impact on the environment.
Reason may be adverse impact on Mosquito Coil Business.

Friday, 19 March 2010 03:04 AM

Thanks Rashmira for enlightning us on some truth. The adverse and dangerous impact will be to the bootlickers in Ministry of Health who get their regular bribes from other sectors.

Friday, 19 March 2010 03:35 AM

What does the minister care....cos he sleeps in a A/C room works in a A/C environment.....

Friday, 19 March 2010 04:37 AM

Now All are waiting till BTI finishing it job. This will never happen.What is Environment ministry and Health ministry
doing? There must be a nation wide programme to eleminate or reduce this problem.

Friday, 19 March 2010 04:44 AM

may be no commission BTI

Friday, 19 March 2010 05:02 AM

The simple truth is the mosquito-coil industry is a very powerful business in Sri Lanka.
The officials at the Health ministry of SL are looking for some excuses (as (as usual) !

Friday, 19 March 2010 07:08 AM

Certainly butterflies are important than lives of Sri Lankan Children.

Friday, 19 March 2010 08:41 AM

Bag of excuses by the Health Ministry. ... if its used in Cuba without a problem, why then its a issue to Sri Lanka? Do your JOB minister without finding useless excuses.

Friday, 19 March 2010 09:05 AM

Now Dengue Siripala is getting butterflies in his stomach

Saturday, 20 March 2010 03:20 AM

The trouble is the coil manufacturers who are advising the Ministry do not know science

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BTI bacteria raises questions

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