Health Dept boosts pre-emptive efforts to prevent outbreak of malaria, dengue in Faridabad, Palwal

Bijendra Ahlawat

Faridabad/Palwal, July 5

Even though no case of malaria or dengue has been reported from Faridabad and Palwal districts so far, the Health Department has launched a slew of measures to prevent the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases in view of the onset of monsoon.

While, Palwal district had reported five cases of dengue last year, Faridabad recorded 190 cases of dengue and three cases of malaria in 2023-24.

“The department has taken up various initiatives like field survey, inspection of spots vulnerable to accumulation of mosquito larvae and awareness programmes to inform residents about the dangers of stagnated water and dumping of waste in and around their premises,” said an official of the Health Department.

Six suspected cases of dengue were reported recently, but the samples were found negative in the lab tests. Antimalarial chemicals like deltamethrin were being sprinkled at sensitive spots and gambusia fish was released into 288 ponds and other water bodies. — Dr Surender Arya, In-charge, Malaria department, Palwal

Although no case of dengue or malaria has surfaced in the district till date, over 1.05 lakh blood samples have been sent for testing. As many as 263 notices have been issued regarding the presence of mosquito larvae, while the mosquito-eating fish has been released in around 160 ponds. — Dr Ram Bhagat, Deputy CMO, Faridabad

The official said notices were being served on owners if mosquito larvae were found on any residential or commercial premises. Gambusia fish, which eats mosquito larvae, was being released into water bodies to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

The Deputy CMO (Chief Medical Officer) and District Malaria Officer of Faridabad, Dr Ram Bhagat, said although no case of dengue or malaria had surfaced in the district till date, over 1.05 lakh slides of blood samples had been sent for testing.

He stated that 263 notices had been issued regarding the presence of mosquito larvae, while the mosquito-eating fish had been released in around 160 ponds in the district this season.

Meanwhile, Palwal district has not reported any cases of dengue or malaria either, according to the officials of the department concerned.

“Six suspected cases of dengue were reported recently, but the samples were found negative in the lab tests,” said Dr Surender Arya, in-charge of the malaria department here.

He said antimalarial chemicals like deltamethrin were being sprinkled at sensitive spots and gambusia fish was released into 288 ponds and other water bodies. Besides, over 65,000 blood samples have been tested for vector-borne diseases in the district so far.