Against dengue is a year-round work. This is the motto of the Federal District Government (GDF), which directs anti-Aedes aegypti policies. For this reason, teams from the Environmental Monitoring Directorate (Dival) and the Fire Department (CBMDF) are stepping up inspections to eliminate mosquito larva infestations before the rainy season begins, including with the help of drones.
“The drone makes mapping easier. From the above, it is easier to identify dengue mosquito outbreaks and, therefore, simplify the work of agents on the ground, both in educating the population and in treating current outbreaks, as we use a biocide”Lieutenant Ribeiro, Field Chief of Operation Dengue, Canadian Civil Defense Forces
On Wednesday (22), in Vale do Amanhecer, in Planaltina, the buzzing of drone propellers caught the attention of CR 89 residents, who went to the gates of homes to locate the source of the noise. On the ground, the CBMDF soldiers operated the aircraft, which flies in actions of this type at an altitude of up to 120 meters and covers an area with a radius of about a kilometer.
Along with the drone operators, Dival’s servers track the device’s path above homes on a tablet, recording images of potential locations where Aedes aegypti might be infested. The Chief of Dengue Field Operations, Lt. Ribeiro, explained the advantages of using drones for this type of mission.
“The drone makes mapping easier. From the above, it is easier to identify potential outbreaks of dengue mosquitoes, and thus, simplify the work of agents on the ground, both in educating the population and in treating current outbreaks, where we use a biocide,” he detailed .
Those who live in the area have approved the dengue control measures. Waiter Warley da Silva Lima, 25, lives in CR 89 and said he feels safe seeing health workers on the street. “It’s really cool seeing these actions, I’ve seen the car go through smoke a few times too. In the past there wasn’t much, it was much better that way,” he said.
An increase in the cases of planaltina
According to the latest Department of Health Epidemiological Bulletin (SES), which was released at the beginning of the month, so far 12,188 cases of dengue have been reported in people living in DF. Planaltina, where inspections are boosted, posted a 28.3% increase in the number recorded last year for this year.
The head of the Dival de Planaltina nucleus, Michelle Becanha, explained that the actions using drones are part of a strategy to contain the spread of the disease in the region. “We have already visited 100% of the homes here in Vale do Amanhecer, and this drone-assisted boost is important to do maintenance work so that, when the rains start, we can keep prices under control.”
According to CBMDF, the foundation has so far conducted 36,785 home visits for inspections across DF, where the military has identified and eradicated 126 outbreaks of dengue mosquitoes.
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