Zero malaria cases reported since two years in Mysuru & Chamrajnagar

MYSURU: Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts have reported zero malaria cases in the last two years.
As the district administration has initiated measures like fogging and other vector-borne disease control measures, the malaria cases have been curbed in the districts.
Mysuru district has reported 72 cases in 2012, 63 in 2013, 54 in 2014, 34 in 2015 and 43 in 2016, but not a single case has been reported since May 2017. Mysuru has not reported a single case of indigenous malaria in the last five years.
Likewise, neighbouring Chamarajanagar too reported 34 cases in 2018, 43 in May 2019, but not a single case since June 2019.
Aggressive surveillance, awareness measures undertaken by the district health authorities with the support of health workers, Accredited Social Health Activists attributed to the success.
Intensive sensitization about malaria through regular awareness programmes and cleanliness drives with the support of local administration at regular intervals in slums and other infection-prone areas has also helped the twin districts to achieve zero cases.
Speaking to TOI, Chamarajanagar district health officer Dr K M Vishweshwaraiah said that his department has also regularly conduct the tests to detect malaria cases in all its 62 PHCs, other community health centres, taluk and district hospitals including shares information with private hospitals over vector borne diseases.
The government agencies released larvae-eating fish in lakes, ponds, and took some other measures that have yielded good results in preventing malaria and other vector-borne diseases like chikungunya and dengue cases, he said.
“As the Union government has set a target of making India malaria-free by 2030, Mysuru district health authorities too are making all efforts to eradicate this vector-borne disease. Cases are often reported in large numbers among migrant labourers from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal settled in the city. Instructions have been to all Ashas, health workers, including private labs and clinics to share information on cases, test them to detect, ensure treatment if they test positive for malaria and other vector-borne diseases,” district vector-borne diseases control officer Dr S Chidambar told TOI.