Bhubaneswar, Oct. 29: The civic body is taking steps to prevent an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in the city. The disease has claimed more than 73 lives in the past 50 days in Malkangiri district.

In an advisory issued by the state health department last week, the city's civic body has been asked to keep a close watch on the city's pig population.

It has asked the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to identify places where the pig population is high and catch them to control the outbreak of the disease.

The health department has also asked the civic body to carry out regular fogging to control the mosquito menace. The advisory suggested conducting at least two rounds of fogging in slum areas where the pig population is high. Accordingly, the civic body will identify water bodies and muddy patches and apply bio-larvaecide to disinfect the sources.

Besides, the civic body has also been asked to clear bushes at regular intervals, mainly in the swamps.

"We had already convened a meeting with our officials and come up with an action plan in line with the health department's advisory. We will identify the vulnerable pockets and conduct the cleanliness and fogging activities," said Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Earlier this month, the civic body had conducted awareness drives at Salia Sahi to educate people about prevention of the disease. They had than cleaned the drains in the area. However, status quo was restored barely after a week with pigs being traced in the area once again.

A city councillor said: "We have made people aware about the ill effects of domesticating pigs, especially now when they are sourcing the deadly Japanese encephalitis virus. However, they don't comply with it."

Salia Sahi resident Niraj Sahoo said: "The pigs are our livelihood. It is impossible for us to leave this business, but we are ready to keep a close eye on them and for that we need the civic body's help."