aurangabad due to shortage of potable water many in droughtaffected areas have been compelled to drink unhealthy water leading to diseases like diarrhoea cholera and malaria moreover spread of malaria dengue fever cholera and meningitis is also likely said v s bhatkar the assistant director malaria aurangabad he said that people need to be more cautious and adopt hygienic methods while consuming and storing water the malaria department has braced itself to take preventive measures to ensure hygienic conditions the department has received a stock of essential medicines on march 15 he said the department conducted a districtlevel meeting on monday all medical officers have been instructed to carry out a survey at every corner check water containers spread awareness about hygiene and distribute medicines such as chlorine and temiphos antilarvae tabs the health officers have also been instructed to carry out pesticide spraying and fogging at mosquito breeding sites said bhatkar he appealed to people to store water in clean utensils and observe dry day once a week mosquito rest indoors in closets and other dark places outside they rest where it is cool and shaded the female mosquito lays her eggs in water containers in and around homes schools and other areas the larvae known as wigglers hatch from the eggs and live in the water for about a week they then take a round shape after which the adult mosquito emerges said bhatkar dengue mosquitoes breed in any water storage containers favoured breeding places are barrels drums jars pots buckets flower vases plant saucers tanks cisterns bottles tins tyres pans plant saucers and roof gutters refrigerator drip pans catch basins drains soakaway pits cement blocks cemetery urns plant leaf axils bamboo stumps tree cavities and a lot more places where water collects or is stored explained bhatkar those who store water in containers should ensure that the lids are tightly closed in villages where water is stored in huge clay pots the bottom part is susceptible to mosquito breeding observation of dry day is a must those who wash their utensils and clothes should ensure that the waste water does not stagnate and is kept flowing it should culminate into a soak pit elucidated bhatkar he said that people can add a few drops of kerosene or waste engine oil into the drainages gutters or stagnant water ponds to prevent mosquito breeding elaborating on the spread of dengue he said that it is caused by the bite of a female mosquito aedes aegypti which transfers the virus from an infected person to a healthy one the chain continues there is no way to tell if a mosquito is carrying the dengue virus therefore people must protect themselves from all mosquito bites he said former aurangabad district deputy health director devidas athawale said people can add a few drops of medi chlor to purify drinking water this medicine is easily available at any medical store one can add five drops to 20 litres of water this ensures