BTI from Cuba suspended

2 March 2010 11:01 am

By Indika Sri Aravinda 


At least 50 people have died in just two months after being diagnosed with dengue, the Health Ministry said and warned that the situation could get out of control of proper precautions are not taken.

Meanwhile the government has suspended the decision to purchase 30000 liters of Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI) bacteria from a Cuban company to control the spread of dengue.

Director of the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health Dr. Paba Palihawadana, speaking to Daily Mirror online, said that 8000 people were diagnosed with dengue over the past two months out of which 50 people later died.

She said that the most number of cases have been reported from Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Jaffna and Vavuniya. The health official blamed the provincial councils for the spread of the disease saying they had failed to properly clean water lodged areas to prevent mosquito breeding.

The import of the BTI bacteria to counter the spread of dengue had been given Cabinet approval however a Health Ministry official speaking to Daily Mirror online on the condition of anonymity said that a decision has now been taken to suspend the import of the bacteria owing to the cost involved.   (Daily Mirror online)