Bhopal: Nearly 1.62 crore families will be distributed Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) in Madhya Pradesh to deal with vector-borne diseases. Minister of health Tulsi Silawat will kick start the distribution of free-of cost insecticide-treated nets – designed to block mosquitoes physically – from this Republic Day.

Similarly, district in-charge minister will start mass distribution of the nets in their respective districts on January 26. The cost of the entire project costs Rs 300 crore. The distribution of the nets was pending due to enforcement of Assembly election model code of conduct (MCC).

In November (2018), two deaths due to Zika virus in state capital had put the entire administration on alert. Fifty four cases were reported from state capital and even Char Imli, an up-scale area of the city, was made ‘Zika containment zone’ as precautionary measure.

Similarly, 50 cases from Vidisha, two from Hoshangabad, 21 from Sehore, 2 Sagar and 1 from Raisen were reported between September and November, 2018. Similarly, dengue, a Flavivirus and chikungunya, an Alphavirus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, had also spread its tentacles in the state prompting the administration to come up with plan to check spread of disease.

Insecticidal Nets

An LLIN is a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide. The insecticide is cleverly bound within the fibers that make up the netting and is ‘slow released’ over a 4-5 year period. Insecticide treated nets therefore provide two levels of protection- First, as a mechanical barrier against the bites of malaria-carrying mosquitoes and second, as a means of killing mosquitoes on contact with the insecticide.