Even before the onset of monsoon, malaria cases in the city have started to increase. In a span of two weeks, 865 cases of malaria have been registered — on an average of 48 cases each day. So far, suspected malaria cases in last four months were at around 40 a day.
However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) attributed the increasing number of cases to the influx of migrant labourers.
“Monsoon has not yet started in the city. There is no case of water logging so far. The ones suffering from malaria are those who have migrated from the malaria endemic states like Karnataka or Orissa,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner.
The statistics from the public health department state that in January around 1397 cases of malaria were registered, with 6 deaths. February witnessed 1194 cases and 3 deaths, while March recorded 1629 cases and 2 deaths. The figures in April subsided to 1450 cases and no deaths. In contrast, the figures soared this month.
BJP councillor Ashish Shelar lambasted the lackadaisical attitude of civic administration. “Even if there is an influx, the workers are in the city. Does the city lack the capacity to bear the outbreak of the disease? The disease is also affecting the citizens,” he said.
Meanwhile to track the origins of the malaria cases, micro-mapping of a ward will take place. This will specify where the patients are coming from. The BMC further blamed the Feng Shui artefacts for malaria. “The Feng Shui bamboo pieces serve as breeding ground of mosquitoes. The water in the bowl, if unchanged, serves as a suitable medium for multiplication of mosquito larvae,” Mhaiskar said.
These are small things, which mostly go unnoticed. If we take such precautionary measure in our houses, the disease can be kept at bay, she added.
Sameer Desai, Congress councillor from Goregaon, stated that people ought to be made aware of the seriousness. “The city has the maximum number of malaria cases. Awareness has to be generated amongst people for malaria control. Special attention has to be paid in slums and construction sites which are hotbed for malaria.”
The BMC, to keep the mosquito sting at bay, will also be setting up Arogya camps in the city. “The citizens ought to adopt simple steps. Use mosquito nets, don’t let water stagnate for more than eight days, see a doctor immediately if suspecting malaria and avoid self medication,” Mhaiskar informed.
Comments