49 malaria cases recorded in July, SDMC ramps up awareness drives

Even as civic agencies continue efforts to tackle of vector-borne diseases in the Capital, the total number of malaria cases reached 225, with 49 cases reported in July.

Meanwhile, the total number of dengue and chikungunya cases recorded this year, till July 15, reached 150 and 183, respectively.

17 new cases of dengue and 12 of chikungunuya were recorded last week, the report said prepared by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said.

Of the 183 chikungunya cases, 122 affected persons were residents of Delhi. The rest of the cases were traced to other states.

22 cases of dengue have been reported this month, while 15 were recorded in June.

In wake of the sudden spurt in cases, SDMC on Monday organised a programme on Anti-Dengue and Malaria Day in Najafgarh Zone to spread awareness about vector-borne diseases.

SDMC Mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat requested people to render their cooperation to the corporation by taking precautions to stop breeding of mosquitoes.

She asked the Department of Environment Management and Services (DEMS) to focus on cleanliness and sanitation to stop occurrence of 'mosqitogenic' conditions.

"Dengue transmission occurs in the rainy season when temperature and humidity are highly favorable for build-up of mosquito density. Mosquito tend to bite in the day, leaving schools, teaching institutions and work places at high risk," Sehrawat said.

A senior SDMC official said that the Corporation's public health department has intensified IEC (Information, Education and Communication) activities to check breeding.

Dengue and chikungunya are caused by the bite of Aedes agypti mosquito, which breeds in clear stagnant water, while the malaria-causing Anopheles mosquito breeds in both fresh and muddy water.

According to the SDMC report, breeding has been reported at 58,753 Delhi households.

All the three Municipal Corporations have stepped up their awareness drives, which includes distribution of pamphlets, plying of vehicles carrying loudspeakers, issuing dos and don'ts on prevention of vector-borne diseases.

"It has been decided to intensify checking of mosquitoes breeding at big establishments, institutions and offices. Wherever the breeding will be noticed an appropriate action will be taken. The public health cannot be overlooked hence, all possible steps will be taken to prevent and control dengue and malaria," an SDMC official said.

The Corporation has already issued 25 VIP challans against defaulters, including an MTNL office; St Gregorias School in Dwarka; the Munirka Metro project; DU's Bharti, Rajdhani and Shivaji colleges; a Sarvodaya School, Humayun Tomb, Nizamuddin and Central School of Sadik Nagar.

"Major construction sites have been identified and are under regular follow up to control mosquito breeding. A total of 107 challans and 432 notices have been served to construction sites allowing mosquito breeding or mosquitogenic condition. This year, SDMC also initiated levying of administrative charges against violators allowing mosquito breeding. 573 violators have been imposed for administrative charges till date," the official further said.