18 March 2010 02:30 pm
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)