Mysuru: The Mysuru District is all set to be declared as Malaria free as no case has been reported since last five years.
The neighbouring Mandya, Kodagu, Chamarajanagara, Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural Districts became Malaria free since last two years while Mysuru has completely controlled Malaria since 2017 itself.
The assesment was done by Union and State Health Departments and Mysuru is the first District in State that has eliminated Malaria completely.
According to assesment norms, the District should have quality laboratory reports, and maintain perfect records. No case of Malaria fever patient should be reported. The eradication of Malaria was possible owing to stringent measures taken up by the helath officials.
Speaking to NewsKarnataka, the Health Department District Epidemic Diseases Controlling District Officer Dr. S. Chidambara said that Malaria cases were high in District from 1998 to 2004. The Department particularly in association with ASHA workers created awareness in rural areas of the District. The people also followed the guidelines issued by Department, finally the cases become zero since 2017.
He said despite zero cases we have not stopped tests, and preventive methods. We have left young fishes into ponds, and lakes that eat mosquito larva. The Health workers periodically do fogging and spraying in areas prone to diseases where drain water is storing. He said the workers migrating from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha and Chattisgarh may spread diseases. The health workers are identifying the outside workers and conduct tests irrespective of fever symptoms or no. We treat them for any kind of infections, he said.
He said that the Department has been getting reports daily from private nursing homes and hospitals about cases of fever. He said more than 2000 ASHA workers, 700 health workers , 350 doctors and 126 lab technicians are striving hard to maintain zero Malaria cases in the District.
