KMC: Dengue and malaria numbers fewer so far this yr
Times of India | 22 July 2024
Kolkata: Going by the number of dengue and malaria cases reported in the city till the second week of July, the situation this year was better than that around the same time last year, said KMC on Saturday.
“Between Jan and July 14, 146 people were detected with dengue, while the figure was 220 in the corresponding period last year. The number of malaria cases this year has been much lower, with 663 patients being reported from Jan to July 14, while the figure was 2,000 last year,” said a KMC health official.“But we should not be complacent, especially after the recent spells of rain.This type of rain sets the alarm bells ringing for the rest of the season. We are taking steps to keep the numbers in check.” He said the KMC was intensifying its vector-control measures.
Mayor Firhad Hakim said the health department was trying to farm a species of telapia fish as part of the vector-control drive. “Guppy fish eats mosquito larvae. We have found a special type of telepia fish devours mosquitoes,” he said.