AHMEDABAD: Erratic rains and longer dry spells during the monsoon have led to a surge in vector-borne diseases in Ahmedabad. The average mosquito density per room rose from 1.3 in May to 2.78 in July.
Dengue, chikungunya, and malaria cases spiked in July in the city, when compared to the same period last year. In the case of dengue, there were 22 cases last year in July. This year, the AMC has registered 72.
In the case of chikungunya, just three cases were recorded last year; the number is already 34 this year. As for malaria, 44 cases were registered last year, but this year there have been 120 in July alone.
Municipal health authorities have blamed the situation on several mosquito breeding spots.
These include water storage on the terraces of dwellings; discarded items, within residential compounds, in which water collects; refrigerator defrost trays; flower vases; and household gardens.
“We saw heavy breeding of mosquitoes in the peripheral industrial clusters of the city, especially in areas which manufacture and sell sanitary ware,” said an AMC official. “Water collects in ceramic ware lying in the open. Also, the city has not experienced heavy rain spells for a few days. So the rise in vector-borne diseases was expected.”
