Sri Lanka blocks import of solid BTI insecticide despite spread of dengue

Sri Lanka Ministry of Health sources say that the Pest Control Bureau that comes under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture has objected to the distribution of the microbial insecticide, Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI) bacteria solid block in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka private sector has sought permission to sell the BTI that comes in the solid block form which is imported from the US.

Despite the encouragement of the private sector by the Ministry of Health to import the BTI bacteria, the Ministry of Agriculture has not granted permission to import the BTI solid block for many months, sources say.

BTI is widely accepted all over the world as a successful solution for controlling mosquito breeding and it is highly effective against mosquito larvae. Sri Lanka has conducted studies on using BTI to control mosquitoes.

The country is presently facing a severe epidemic of dengue. So far over 80 people have died of dengue this year and another 14,500 people have contracted the disease.