Udupi: “With an aim to fight the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue and chikungunya, the Udupi health department is planning a systematic approach to reduce it”, said Dr.Premananda K. Dist. Vector Borne Disease Control Officer (DVBDCO) .
While briefing the media about the prevention and current status he said that the number of cases on vector-borne diseases are constantly decreasing from last 3 years and to reduce it further, special teams will be formed to check the spread and create awareness on after-monsoon effects of vector borne diseases . As it is the end of monsoon already, the chances of stagnant water storage will be more and it helps breed mosquitoes, hence measures are taken to identify the breeding sources of mosquitoes and destroy them.
Prior to the monsoons, a task force was formed to control the vector borne diseases which included 1,200 anganwadi workers and 600 ASHA workers. The teams had visited households in the Municipal limit and created awareness, which helped to successfully control it up to some extend .
According to the figures made available by the district health department till September, in the coastal district, 171371 malaria cases have been taken for Blood Smear Collected (BSC) and 1008 cases have been reported. For dengue, till date 1254 cases are suspected, 1254 confirmed and 262 positive and chikungunya, in 2015 there were 130 cases reported and 3 were positive. From the district, no deaths were reported this year.
In the previous years, 171571 Malaria cases were reported, 1639 were positive and 123 serious, 837 dengue cases were suspected and 829 were confirmed and 130 were serious; 20 cases of Chikungunya were reported and 3 were positive. As district is concerned, all patients have recovered as continuous Source Reduction and further Health Education are being taken up.
Dr. Premananda added that more cases are reported in the Municipality limit, especially concerning migrant laborers in construction sites, hence campaigns and precautionary measures are being taken up. There are teams to do fever surveys and help in early detection of malaria.
“Site owners are instructed to take prevention measures. People have been urged to keep their surrounding clean”, he added.
The Blood Smear Collected (BSC) in the year 2010, from 1,63,251 samples of two different species of the parasite that causes malaria in humans were 1528. In 2011, BSC from 1,62,102 samples were 1250, In 2012 BSC from 1,80,369 were 2217. In 2013 BSC reported from 1,80,803 samples were 2205 cases. In 2014, BSC from 1,71,571 samples were 1639.
For dengue, in the year 2010, BSC for 106 samples was 46, in 2011 BSC from 23 samples were 19. In 2012 BSC from 625 samples were 126, in 2013 BSC from 939 samples were 240, in 2014 BSC from 837 samples were 130.
For chikungunya, in 2010, BSC from 22 samples were 7, in 2011 BSC from 6 samples were 6, in 2012 BSC from 34 samples were 3, in 2013 BSC from 15 samples were 4, in 2014 BSC from 20 samples were 3.