While there have been rumours about an increase in malaria and dengue cases, in reality, the number of malaria cases reported in Visakhapatnam District has come down from last year. Malaria and dengue cases are reported throughout the year, with July usually being the month with the highest numbers. That is because malaria is endemic to Visakhapatnam.
According to the District Malaria Officer (DMO), Visakhapatnam, Y Mani, there has been a close to 36 percent decline compared to last year in malaria cases reported throughout the district. From the beginning of the year, till Sunday, 24 October 2021, only 781 malaria cases have been reported in the district. Around 95 percent of the malaria cases have been reported in tribal areas of the district, while only a small number were from Visakhapatnam city and the rural areas. In the same time period, 858 dengue cases have been reported. While there has been a steady decrease in dengue cases in Visakhapatnam District since August 2021, cases are still being reported and people need to be careful.
In order to combat the malaria and dengue endemic, the district authorities are employing upto 6,28,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets. Much of these will be deployed in the tribal areas, in order to prevent malaria and dengue cases.
“Despite malaria and dengue cases still being reported in the district, there’s no need to be alarmed,” said DMO Mani. As long as citizens are following preventive measures like having no standing water near their houses and changing their water tanks every two days, there’s no serious threat of these seasonal diseases.
In order to prevent malaria and dengue in Visakhapatnam, GVMC has asked citizens to observe every Friday as a dry day to avoid mosquito breeding in vulnerable areas.
Here’s all you need to know for keeping yourselves safe from seasonal diseases in Visakhapatnam.
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