Malaria and Dengue cases on the rise in Malad, Malwani as BMC looks the other way?

MUMBAI: Malaria and Dengue cases are on the rise in the Malad, Malwani and Madh belt including Orlem, Jankalyan, Ekta Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Charkop and adjoining areas.

Accumulation of stagnant mini pools of water in residential areas, building society complexes, playgrounds, open plots and gardens in the area is the main reason for the increase in Malaria cases as mosquitoes breed voraciously during this season.

In the Evershine Nagar, Malwani, Jankalyan, Ekta Nagar and MAHADA belt, huge swarms of mosquitoes can be seen everyday as evening sets in.

Efforts to contact BMC officials for comment proved futile as no official was ready to speak on the matter and diverted this reporter to the office of the Municipal Commissioner.

According to a Times of India report, Malaria cases hit a three-year high in Mumbai (both Island city and suburbs) in 2021.

Civic data showed that Mumbai recorded 5,032 cases from January to December 12, 2021 up from 5,007 cases diagnosed in 2020 and 4,357 in 2019.

The cases were mainly reported from the island city’s wards: G-north, E and F-South. In the suburbs Kandivli, Borivli and Malad were the main hotspots in 2021, the TOI report said. A similar or worse situation is expected this year, even though several cases go unreported.

In spite of the facts and records, which speak for themselves, the civic authorities have not taken the matter seriously.

Fumigation for dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases is literally non-existent in the Malad area and even if done is a mere eyewash.

There is no scientific and methodical fumigation in the known Malaria hotspots, in spite of past records, claimed Minakshi Pathak, a social worker from Malwani.

Another mosquito-borne disease that saw a rise last year was dengue. Compared to 129 cases previously, there were 857 confirmed cases in 2021.

The numbers of both Malaria and dengue returned to pre-pandemic years, such as 2019, when 920 cases were reported. In the last 3-4 years, dengue has claimed three lives.