Malaria, dengue cases nosedive in Hyderabad

Only 3 malaria and 346 dengue infections reported; increased awareness and GHMC’s proactive measures play key role

Hyderabad: Increased awareness among residents, extensive fumigation and anti-larval operations by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) among other factors have led to a drastic decline in cases of seasonal diseases, especially malaria and dengue, in the city this year.

While 190 malaria cases were reported in 2018 and 81 in 2019, only three have been reported this year. Similarly, 401 dengue cases were reported in 2018 and 3,366 in 2019 against this year’s 346. Among the dengue cases reported till date, only 75 were confirmed and 271 suspected.

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Cases of seasonal ailments like malaria and dengue are generally reported in July-December. “This year, however, not many cases were reported, and there is a drastic decline in the cases of both the diseases,” said GHMC Chief Entomologist A Rambabu.

This was despite heavy rains lashing the city during the monsoon, particularly in October. Among different factors, special initiatives such as ‘Sunday 10 am 10 minutes’ launched by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao and extensive spraying of disinfectants in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic have aided in controlling the cases.

Though only 75 of the 346 dengue cases reported this year were confirmed and the rest reported from private hospitals, the entomology wing, irrespective of the case status, was taking all measures such as intensifying anti-larval operations and spraying disinfectants in the areas, he said.

The GHMC is taking up weekly anti-larval operations with 642 teams as per the Pin Point Program (PPP) in domestic and peri-domestic mosquito breeding sources (house to house) covering 1 lakh houses on an average every day. The focus was laid on clearing water stagnation points for removal of Aedes and Anopheles mosquito breeding, and the sources were being treated with larvicide temephos once a week.

This year, special focus was laid on the Musi river, and 18 exclusive teams with 54 workers took up anti-larval activities from Attapur to the Chaderghat bridge. Water hyacinth too was being removed in tanks and ponds in the city.

Not just malaria and dengue cases, there was a considerable decline in the diarrhoea cases as well. Usually, during this part of the year, many diarrhoea cases are reported in the city but due to the increased awareness, extensive use of hand sanitisers and handwash liquids, and reduced dine-out activity have resulted in the decline of cases, said Basti Dawakhana Programme Officer (Hyderabad) Anuradha.

Further, many schools and colleges remaining closed due to the pandemic also helped in controlling the spread of the seasonal diseases, she added.

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