Dengue surge in Ahmedabad: 500 cases in first 20 days of September

Ahmedabad: The city recorded 496 dengue cases between September 1 and 20, accounting for nearly 46% of the total 1,084 cases reported since January 1. The sharp rise has been attributed to intermittent spells of rain in August and September, which have created favourable conditions for mosquito breeding.

According to data released by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Tuesday, the city also reported 70 cases of malaria, 22 cases of falciparum malaria and seven cases of chikungunya in September. Hospitals and clinics have also reported an increase in patients with fever.

Among the worst-hit areas are Navrangpura, Naranpura, Wadaj, Paldi, Ghatlodia, Gota, Thaltej, Bodakdev, Chandlodia, Sarkhej, Maktampura, Jodhpur and Vejalpur.

Doctors said that apart from vector-borne diseases, flu cases, including H1N1, are also on the rise, with some people with pre-existing health conditions requiring hospitalisation.

Since January 1, Ahmedabad has recorded 386 malaria cases, 69 cases of falciparum malaria and 14 cases of chikungunya. During the same period, the AMC health department recorded 4,060 cases of gastroenteritis, including diarrhoea and vomiting, 580 cases of jaundice and 1,591 cases of typhoid.

According to the civic body, mosquito breeding has been found to be more prevalent in areas with a large number of construction sites. Rainwater accumulated on terraces and in basements of residential and commercial buildings is also being identified as a potential breeding ground. DeshGujarat