Brazilian cities Foz do Iguaçu and Dourados start major urban clean‑up drives

The municipality of Foz do Iguaçu began a week‑long clean‑up operation in its north‑east districts, deploying teams to over 30 sites in neighborhoods such as Três Lagoas, Pilar Campestre and Jardim Nacional. The effort focuses on removing illegal waste, trimming vegetation, sweeping streets and installing community waste containers to curb breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads dengue, Zika and chikungunya.

In Dourados, city officials launched a force‑task to clear dense growth of the invasive aquatic plant Salvinia auriculata from the Antenor Martins and Rego D’Água park lakes. Crews are using manual tools, rope‑assisted collection and a retro‑excavator, with additional machinery scheduled to join in coming weeks. The removal aims to improve lake conditions after heavy rains, though the plant is not toxic to water or fish.

Both initiatives involve multiple municipal departments and aim to improve public health and urban environment in their respective regions.