This Thursday (30), the City Hall of Belo Horizonte is implementing a joint effort to clean and collect objects that accumulate water in the Pampulha area. In this action, which will take place from 8:30 a.m., in Bairro Trevo, Endemic Disease Control Agents (ACEs) will also instruct residents on urban collection and precautions to prevent the spread of mosquitoes that transmit dengue, Zika and chikungunya. This initiative is implemented by the Municipal Health Administration (SMSA) and the Urban Cleaning Supervisory Authority (SLU).

Cleanup efforts are carried out throughout the year by the Belo Horizonte City Council. In 2023, so far, 252 actions have been carried out, and SLU has collected more than 344 tons of material. About 87 thousand properties were worked on. To mobilize the population, days before the joint effort, ACEs travel the streets where the event will be carried out, informing the date and time.

Getting rid of things that accumulate water and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes is very important to prevent dengue, Zika and chikungunya. The Aedes aegypti Index Rapid Survey (LIRAa) showed that 86.9% of mosquito infestations occur indoors.

Among the predominant breeding sites, plant racks stand out, accounting for 33.1% of infestations, followed by non-usable items (lids, containers, bottles), which account for 21% of mosquito breeding sites. “These figures show how important it is for the population to participate in the fight against mosquitoes. Weekly inspection of backyards to ensure that there are no objects in which water accumulates contributes greatly to reducing the spread of Aedes aegypti,” explains the Undersecretary of Health Promotion and Surveillance, Fabiano dos Anjos.