They started from the Old City slums and gave approximately one day to each ward that was identified for the survey. In all, the team took 2,778 blood samples and screened them for malaria.
“We had two objectives in mind when we started this survey. It was to evaluate undetected malaria status through random sample survey and to make people aware about the disease and mosquito control,” said Dr DN Shukla, district malaria control officer.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that gives high fever and anaemia to people, said Dr Arti Rani, a physician. It is caused by a parasite called plasmodium, which is transmitted through infected mosquito bites.
“If not treated, malaria can become life-threatening by disrupting blood supply to vital organs,” said Dr Mudit Goyal.
The teams visited slums along with another team of doctors from the district health office. They examined patients who complained of fever and other common ailments.
Doctors advised people to take precautions at home, specially for the children so that they don’t fall victim to mosquito bites. Residents were told to use mosquito nets and