Both chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Premchand Sookoo and Public Health Officer Ramdeo Badal assured yesterday there was no dengue outbreak in the area. Badal explained: "Penal/Debe does not have a dengue problem. We have an ongoing eradication programme in the area. We have very few cases of dengue. "The odd cases, we suspect, have been imported, meaning people may have contracted them in other areas."
He said the last time they sprayed the area around the Prime Minister's residence was when she exhibited dengue symptoms. He added: "We have a three-month cycle of spraying. The chemical we use is very toxic and spraying too regularly is not advisable for two reasons. "One, it may be dangerous for humans and, secondly, the mosquitoes may develop an immunity," Badal said. Sookoo said although there was no outbreak, both the insect vector and public health departments were monitoring the situation around the PM's home.