12.10% decline in malaria cases: AMC

There has been a drop in the number of vector-borne cases in 2017, as per the data released by the health department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday.

While dengue saw a drop of 62.83% cases as compared to 2016, chikungunya saw a drop of 43.40% cases, and malaria a drop of 12.10% cases. The drop in malaria cases will help the civic body in achieving its target of malaria eradication by 2022.

At least 9,277 cases of malaria were recorded in 2017 as against 10,094 cases in 2016, which indicates marginal drop in malaria cases. In 2017, 1,059 cases of dengue were registered as against 2,852 in 2016. In 2016, 447 cases of chikungunya were reported, against which 253 cases were registered in 2017.

Citing extensive survey as one of the reasons, Dr Bhavin Solanki, in-charge medical officer of health, AMC, said, “Last year, during monsoon and after rains, we did radical treatment of fever patients. It helped in decreasing mode of transmission. This year, we kept a tab on construction sites, open spaces and all areas which could be a potential mosquito-breeding site. Anti-larval activities were also conducted which prevented large scale breeding and helped in decreasing number of cases.”

SURVEY FROM JAN 4

From January 4, Swachhata Sarvekshan would start across the country. This year, 4,041 cities and towns are under screening for Swachhata ranking. However, AMC is going to compete with the urban centres only and rest small towns will get rankings according to their respective zones.