Ahmedabad saw a dramatic increase in vector-borne diseases between January and September this year, as compared to the same period last year. There has been a 243% rise in dengue cases while chikungunya cases have increased by 155% during the period of January 21 to September 11, 2021, compared to January 20 to September 30 in 2020.

Data from the health department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has shown that during the period of January 21 to September 11 this year, there were 875 dengue cases in the city as opposed to 255 cases during January 20 to September 30 last year. Dengue cases increased two-fold in the first nine months of 2021 against a total of 432 cases recorded in the whole of 2020. There were 500 chikungunya cases in the same period this year, compared to 196 cases reported last year. Over the entire last year, chikungunya cases stood at 932. 

Additionally, there were 50 cases of falciparum malaria during January 21 to September 11 period this year, compared to 35 cases in the same period last year. Malaria cases also increased from 436 last year to 549 this year.

Cases of waterborne diseases have also increased during this period. Around 64 cases of cholera have been recorded in Ahmedabad from January 21 to September 11. Last year, there were no cholera cases. Typhoid cases stood at 1,368 during the same period this year, against 965 cases reported last year.

Source: ET Healthworld