Only 21 malaria cases reported so far this year, no chikungunya case yet Chandigarh, December 6 The city has witnessed a sharp decline in the cases of malaria, dengue and chikungunya this year. As per the latest report of the Health Department, the city recorded only 21 malaria cases up to November 30 this year in comparison to 44 cases recorded during the same period last year. Even the number of dengue cases has come down to 260 this year in comparison to 285 recorded during the corresponding period last year. No chikungunya case has been recorded so far, while four cases were recorded last year. Dr G Dewan, Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, said it happened due to the sustained efforts of the Health Department with its multi-focus approach and convergence support of various departments of the UT Administration. Timely planning of the Administration and its execution before the onset of season was the key area of success. Cases of adjoining states are referred to the GMCH-32 and the PGI and are labelled as imported cases, whereas Chandigarh residents are labelled as indigenous cases. The data bank is created with regard to indigenous and imported confirmed cases. Dr Dewan said the department had ensured that every nook and corner of the city was covered in the plan to prevent the disease. Health workers, sanitary beldars, MPHWs or ANMs all had been trained along with doctors and paramedical staff in the prevention of the diseases. Video clips and association of schoolchildren for carrying the message of malaria elimination played a big role. Dr Dewan said the department was working on a plan to attain the malaria elimination during 2021. The Annual Parasite Incidence of Chandigarh has been recorded at 0.019 during the year 2019 and the UT is moving towards malaria elimination. Malaria is adjudged on the basis of Annual Parasite Incidence (API) and Chandigarh has been placed in 15 low malaria endemic states/UTs. This happened due to the sustained efforts of the Health Department with its multi-focus approach and convergence support of various departments of the UT Administration. Timely planning of the Administration and its execution before the onset of season was the key area of success.

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