32 new malaria cases reported from dist

Residents asked to keep vector-borne diseases at bay

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 18

As many as 32 new cases of malaria and one case of dengue have been reported from the district. Owing to incessant rain and subsequent water accumulation in public and residential areas, district Health Department officials have asked residents to take all sorts of precautionary measures to keep vector-borne diseases at bay.

Besides, a sizeable number of suspected cases of dengue and malaria were also reported from the district. A majority of the malaria cases have been reported from Goniana and Chak Atar Singhwala village.

Health Department officials said with concerted efforts, they had managed to keep the number of patients down this year as compare to last year.

Dr Umesh Gupta, District Programme Officer, National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, said, “After malaria cases were reported from different areas across the district, our teams conducted investigations and surveys. Besides, the teams sprayed these areas and used insect collectors to catch mosquitoes. The flight range of mosquito causing dengue is up to 400 m whereas that of mosquito spreading malaria is up to 4 km. Fogging was also conducted in different parts of the district.”

When asked as how city residents should protect themselves in incessant and constant rain, Dr Gupta said, “Personal protection is a must. Resident must cover their body by wearing full sleeve clothes and do not let water stagnate for a long inside their houses as well as surroundings. They must use mosquito nets and repellents to keep them safe. If rainwater stagnates on roads for a longer duration, residents can use waste oil to spread on surface of water so that its layer prevents mosquito larvae breeding.”

Officials of the Health Department said the city had been divided into 16 zones and whenever they found any positive case, they ensured that anti-larvae spray sprinkled in that particular area.