Two malaria cases in Gurgaon stirs the health department into action

The area where the residents live have dumping grounds and stagnant water, health officials said

Two confirmed cases of malaria were reported in the city on Sunday. This year, cases of mosquito-borne diseases have been reported even before the onset of monsoon.

Stagnant water is set to be ideal for the breeding of mosquitoes. (HT FILE)

The two malaria cases reported on Sunday are the first ones this season.

It was confirmed by the health department that in both cases, children are affected. Four-year-old Chhavi from Kherla village in Bhondsi was admitted to the civil hospital with high fever and tests confirmed malaria.

Seven-year-old Shabana from Ujina in Mewat was also suffering from high fever and was brought to civil hospital on Friday. Her test results, too, confirmed malaria.

These two cases have made the health department react immediately to the situation. They are in the process of conducting inspection of the localities of the patients and have already started fogging to stop the mosquito breeding.

The area where the patients reside have dumping grounds and stagnant water which provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, the health department said.

Haryana is bidding to become a malaria-free state by 2020.

“We have already identified the spots where mosquitoes breed in the city and we are filling them up. Once monsoon arrives, we expect an increase in the number of patients afflicted by mosquito-borne diseases. However, we are confident of controlling the situation and preventing an outbreak,” Ram Prakash Rai, epidemic in-charge, civil hospital, Gurgaon, said.

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In 2016, 38 malaria cases were reported in Gurgaon. In the previous three years, the city recorded 67, 79 and 212 respectively.