INDORE: The city has witnessed a three-fold rise in cases of viral fever in last three weeks. The comparatively higher temperature in October has made conditions favourable for breeding of mosquitoes, thereby increasing chances of spread of illness, say experts.The local authorities, after having failed to control spread of mosquitoes, are now banking on traditional practice of cleaning homes ahead of Diwali and bursting of crackers, the smoke of which will eradicate the vector from the city.“In last three weeks, at least a three-fold rise was witnessed in cases of viral fever mainly because of dengue, malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases,” MGM Medical College medicine department HOD, Dr VP Pandey told TOI. “Even doctors at MY hospital are getting affected. The mosquitoes, after biting dengue and malaria patients, also target doctors visiting OPDs. These diseases spread through ‘day-biting’ mosquitos and therefore, to protect from them, use of mosquito repellents especially at workplace is advised,” he said.Dr Pandey said that drop in temperature, which is expected in next one week, coupled with burning of firecrackers during Diwali is expected to help keep mosquito breeding and spread of viral diseases under check.“With help of Indore Municipal Corporation , we are carrying out fogging in areas suspected to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” district malaria officer Dharmendra Jain said. “The department has received around 15,000 medicated mosquito nets, which will be distributed in the areas where annual parasite incident is more than 1 per 1000 persons. Before distribution, we will seek permission from Election Commission,” he said.

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