In response to a surge in public complaints and sporadic dengue cases, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has launched an aggressive, technology-driven campaign to control the city's mosquito population. The civic body has deployed drones to spray larvicides over large water bodies and ramped up traditional fogging operations across neighbourhoods and stormwater drains.
Current Situation and Official Assurance
According to official data, Chennai recorded 480 dengue cases in 2025. However, Dr. S Selvakumar, GCC's chief vector control officer, assures residents that the most critical period for disease transmission has passed. "The season for mosquito-borne diseases is almost over. Vector-borne diseases will come down hereafter," he stated. He explained that while mosquito density might increase in December, causing a nuisance, a significant rise in dengue cases is not expected.
Dr. Selvakumar clarified that the current mosquito population is largely comprised of Culex species, which are more of a nuisance, and not the dengue-causing Aedes aegypti. "Dengue cases typically surge only between September and November when stagnant rainwater favours Aedes breeding," he noted. He also reported a decline in malaria cases and added that with dropping temperatures, no major outbreaks are anticipated.
Multi-Pronged Attack on Mosquito Breeding
The corporation's strategy focuses on source reduction and identification of breeding sites. A workforce of approximately 1,000 civic employees is engaged in citywide efforts. These measures include:
- Door-to-door inspections and mosquito control activities.
- Checking overhead water storage tanks in tenement areas for larvae and applying larvicidal chemicals.
- Spraying insecticides directly into stormwater drains to eliminate mosquitoes and larvae.
- Removing artificial water collection points, like discarded containers and tyres, especially in residential zones.
Goal: A Mosquito-Menace-Free City
"We plan to make the city free from mosquito menace, and several steps have been taken by intensifying fogging operations," Dr. Selvakumar emphasized. The use of drones marks a significant escalation in the fight, allowing the GCC to treat hard-to-reach or extensive water bodies more efficiently than manual methods. The intensified fogging operations in residential areas aim to quickly reduce adult mosquito populations and provide immediate relief to citizens.
The combined approach of leveraging new technology like drones while strengthening ground-level source reduction work underscores the civic body's commitment to curbing vector-borne diseases as Chennai navigates the tail end of the monsoon season.
