Locally produced BTI will save millions

The locally produced BTI bacteria to eradicate dengue menace has proved successful. The Health Ministry will not need to import BTI bacteria in the future. This will enable the Government to save millions of rupees, Health Ministry sources said.


The Health Ministry’s National Anti- Malaria and Anti-Dengue Program Director Dr Sarath Deniyage said tests conducted by the Health Ministry on locally manufactured BTI bacteria on dengue mosquito larvae were successful. The tests were conducted in Peliyagoda and Mattakkuliya last week in a pilot project by the Health Ministry.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena participated by initiating the the use of locally produced larvicide BTI at a State Engineering Corporation workshop premises in Peliyagoda.

“The locally made BTI bacteria demonstrated that it can quickly and effectively kill larvae of dengue transmitting mosquitoes ,” he said. Bio Power Lanka has produced the bacteria.

The company was contracted by the Industrial Technology Institute to produce the bacteria. It is licenced to produce the bacteria for five years.

Asked if this would mean that the Government would not import BTI bacteria from Cuba as it was planning , Dr Deniyage said the Health Ministry has already placed an order with the Cuban government to import 10 000 litres of BTI bacteria .

The Cuban order was placed spending over Rs 30 million. This was before the advent of a local manufacturer to produce the bacteria, Dr Deniyage explained and added that the stocks of Cuban made BTI bacteria is expected to arrive in the country before the end of September. “Cuban made bacteria too will be used to combat the epidemic,” he said . ”However it will not be necessary to import Cuban made BTI in the future,” he said.

Asked if the local manufacturer could produce required amounts of bacteria to fight dengue menace at epidemic levels, Dr Deniyage said the company had said they have enough bacteria to meet the local demand.

They have already provided the Ministry with 5,000 litres of bacteria. The Bio Power Lanka said they have 10,000 litres of BTI in stocks.

Meanwhile, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Pradeep Kariyawasam said they are happy to purchase the locally made BTI bacteria if the bacteria is proven successful.
Kariyawasam said, the CMC spends about Rs 3 million to import BTI bacteria. And they will also be able to save a million or two with the availability of locally produced BTI bacteria.

”We await a report from the Health Ministry about results of their tests conducted on locally produced BTI on dengue mosquito larvae,” he added. (Daily News)