US Embassy assures BTI import support

A delegation from the US Embassy has assured the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) of its cooperation in importing the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved biological larvicide BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) directly from the United States for the effective and long-term control of mosquito-borne diseases in the city.

The assurance came during a courtesy call on CCC Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain by the US Embassy delegation at the Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View Hotel on Wednesday. During the meeting, the mayor sought the embassy’s cooperation in facilitating the direct procurement of BTI from the United States.

The US Embassy delegation included Commercial Counselor Paul Frost, Deputy Political and Economic Counselor David Moo, Senior Political Specialist Firoze Ahmed, Economic Specialist Asif Ahmed, and Commercial Specialist Abir Barua.

The mayor was accompanied by CCC Chief Sanitation Officer Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and other senior officials.

BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) is a World Health Organization (WHO)-recognized, environmentally friendly biological larvicide that is widely used to eliminate the larvae of Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles mosquitoes.

It is internationally recognized as safe for humans, domestic animals, and the environment. BTI has been successfully used for many years in dengue, malaria, and other mosquito-borne disease prevention programmes in countries around the world.

During the meeting, Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain said, “Chattogram City Corporation has been regularly applying WHO-approved BTI in different areas of the city for the past six months. As a result, we have achieved visible success in controlling mosquito-borne diseases.

Currently, the number of patients infected with mosquito-borne diseases has fallen to 113, while the dengue death toll remains zero.”