Health officials of the state government say that this is a natural phenomenon as the disease has a 9-year cycle in which there is an upsurge in number of cases followed by a decline. They fear this year the cases may double.
The malaria cycle in the state is believed to have entered the ascending stage, as is evident from the rise in number of malaria cases across Gujarat.
Health officials of the state government say that this is a natural phenomenon as the disease has a 9-year cycle in which there is an upsurge in number of cases followed by a decline. They fear this year the cases may double.
It seems the disease has just ended one of its 9-year cycles and has entered another leading to sharp increase in the incidence of malaria. Official data shows that the incidence of the disease in the state fell from the year 2004 to 2009 but, since 2010, it seems to be returning with a vengeance.
Dr PV Dave, additional director (health), health department, explained the malaria cycle. “The incidence of malaria is cyclic. Due to changes in the climate, the number of malaria cases in the state is likely to rise. We are taking adequate measures to control and restrict the spread of the disease. Our primary focus is to minimize not only the number of cases but also mortality from the disease,” he said.
As if malaria making a comeback was not enough, dengue and chikungunya are also on an upswing in the state. “New cases of dengue and chikungunya may be reported after monsoon. However, in the case of these diseases, preventive measures are taken every year as they are not cyclic,” said Dave.
So far, dengue has been reported only from the urban areas of the state but now it may raise its head even in the rural areas. An official of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's health department said, on the condition of anonymity, that but "because of the growing urban-rural connectivity, dengue cases are being reported from small villages as well."
Referring to a report of the World Health Organisation, state health minister Jaynarayan Vyas, said that malaria tends to return in cycles because the parasite and its larvae develop resistance to the drugs used to treat the disease.
"For instance, larvae which were earlier killed by DDT, have developed resistance to the chemical. Hence, according to the WHO, malaria is going to be a big challenge to the world in the years to come. It poses a threat not only to Gujarat or India, but to the whole world," the minister said. He added that the state government is taking all the necessary preventive measures to control the disease.
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