Health authorities shift focus to prevent breeding of flies in green waste

Houseflies follow the stages of egg, larval and pupal stages in approximately 10 days, after which adult flies emerge. House flies cease growth after emerging from their pupae and are major carriers of diseases. They can transmit over 100 pathogens triggering diseases like typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera and dysentery. 

Talking to DTNext, Dr K Kolandasamy, Director, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said that while the trees can be cleared in the meantime, the leaves and accumulated branches that attract swarms of flies and trigger breeding of flies cannot be.

“Accumulated leaves, branches and twigs can turn out to be congenial spots for flies to lay eggs. It usually takes 10 days for the flies to breed in such surroundings and we are focusing on them till Monday,” he added. Dr Kolandasamy added that main roads with piles of trees and branches are top priority as there is large scale movement of people.