City grapples with malaria, 2,595 cases reported

PANVEL: An increasing number of dengue and malaria cases have been reported in Panvel. The most recent was case in Taloja’s Visarve area, where a 25-year-old died after contracting a combination of dengue and malaria fever one week ago.

According to official figures, Panvel taluka has recorded around 38 dengue cases and 39 malaria cases in the last two months.

In fact, a total of 2,595 cases of malaria have been reported in the taluka over the last seven months. Residents however said the actual figures are much higher.

Although district health system workers collect blood samples from those suspected to be suffering from the diseases, patients reported that government hospitals in the area lack f acilities to treat dengue and malaria.

As a result, patients are forced to go to private hospitals, many of which are not affordable.

Residents also pointed out that gram panchayats undertook fogging drives to curb t he spread of dengue and malaria, but these were ineffective because of the use of substandard pesticides.

There should be a system to monitor the quality of pesticides used in fogging, residents said.

Panvel Municipal Council’s health supervisor, Sharad Bade said, “All preventive measures are being taken. We need the citizens to cooperate with us by preventing water stagnation in their homes and outside.”