Gandhinagar, August 20: Gujarat is making significant strides in public health by linking it to developmental priorities. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government has implemented a comprehensive system for controlling mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. This system includes surveillance, timely diagnosis, treatment, and mosquito control.
According to data from week 33 of 2026, the state has seen a remarkable decrease in cases compared to the same period last year. Malaria cases dropped by 45.0%, dengue by 39.1%, and chikungunya by 48.1%. Specifically, malaria cases fell from 1,407 to 774, dengue cases from 1,293 to 788, and chikungunya cases from 154 to 80.
On the occasion of World Mosquito Day, the Gujarat Health Department released data showing that over 10.9 million blood samples were tested in 2025, resulting in 1,407 malaria cases. In 2026, this number decreased to 774 after testing over 11.1 million blood samples. There have been no reported deaths from malaria or dengue during this period.
The state has also strengthened its diagnostic system for timely identification and treatment of these diseases. Diagnostic centers in 42 hospitals affiliated with medical colleges have tested over 83,000 serum samples for dengue and more than 12,000 for chikungunya, totaling nearly 96,000 samples for both diseases.
To control mosquito-borne diseases, the Gujarat government has initiated door-to-door surveillance. In the first phase of this campaign, from April 27 to May 6, 2026, 89% coverage was achieved through fever surveillance, disinfection efforts, and health education.
In the second phase, from July 1 to July 10, 19,558 teams covered over 65.1 million people. During this time, more than 257,000 blood samples were collected, identifying 28 malaria patients who received treatment.
Approximately 3 million mosquito breeding sites were eliminated, and fogging was conducted in over 321,000 homes. The campaign focuses on controlling diseases while also preventing mosquito reproduction. During the surveillance, over 2.9 million mosquito breeding sites were destroyed.
In 116 villages across 24 vulnerable districts, more than 100,000 people were covered in the first round of pesticide spraying, with a second round starting on August 1, 2026. To enhance fever surveillance and pesticide operations during the monsoon, 497 vector control teams have been deployed across the state’s districts and municipalities.
By the end of July 2026, larvivorous fish were released in 5,024 permanent water bodies to control mosquito larvae. This method aims to manage mosquito breeding at an early stage. Additionally, essential medicines, larvicides, and necessary equipment for controlling mosquito-borne diseases have been adequately stocked. The situation regarding vector-borne diseases is continuously monitored on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Leave a Comment