As rains ease,mosquito-borne diseases loom over Vidarbha

One dengue case was also reported in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) area,according to V R Zare,assistant director (malaria),Health Services.

The worst hit is Gadchiroli,where four people have died of dengue. Nagpur and Wardha have seen two dengue deaths each.

Malaria too has struck the region,affecting 30 people and leaving 11 of them dead till August 29. Gadchiroli alone accounted for 16 of these cases.

Deaths occurred at Chandrapur (5),Gadchiroli (4) and Gondia (2).

Though the figures for this year are January onwards,a majority of these cases have happened since July,Zare clarified.

Entire eastern Vidarbha,the landscape of which is dominated by paddy fields,received unprecedented rains this year with districts like Chandrapur and Gadchiroli remaining water-logged for over two months at a stretch. “Once the water recedes and slush appears,mosquito breeding gains pace. Now that the rains have subsided,we need to be extra cautious about it. People must keep their surroundings clean and must use mosquito repellants or nets to keep the diseases away,” Zare said.