Cuttack, July 6: Monsoon is here, so is the scare of a dengue outbreak. But, municipal bosses have decided to take the sting out of mosquito menace.

City health officer P.K. Pradhan said the municipal corporation had decided to launch a crackdown on unhygienic conditions to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.

“The civic body has decided to get rid of unwanted vegetation and check water stagnation at various places. Moreover, 100 sanitary employees will be deployed for the special drive that will begin in a couple of days,” he said.

Though the present mosquito density index stands at 47, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation is extra vigilant this time as dengue carrier mosquitoes — adult aedes aegypti — were found at Khapuria last year.

Though 50 cases of dengue were reported in Cuttack last year, only 17 were within the corporation limits. The rest were from neighbouring districts and states.

Official sources said that around 109 persons were afflicted with dengue in 2011.

An expert said water stagnation for seven to 15 days might help mosquitoes breed as the humidity level was high. To avoid such a scenario, the corporation will also launch an awareness campaign to prevent accumulation of water.

“There is chance of mosquito breeding when there is temporary accumulation of water at various points. The mosquito control programme undertaken so far has been satisfactory. We are taking adequate measures to prevent dengue outbreak,” Pradhan said.

A civic body official said spraying of anti-larvicide oil in drains and other places was on and the state government had been approached to provide additional stock, so that the drive could last another three months.

“We will also carry a sanitation drive at all the wards. During the drive, unwanted vegetation will be cleared,” said municipal commissioner Nihar Ranjan Mohapatra.

Mohapatra said all corporation-run dispensaries had been provided with adequate stock of medicines to deal with other water-borne diseases.