Mysuru:  A total of six Chikungunya cases have been detected from January to Apr. 24 in the district this year. But there are no cases Dengue or Malaria being reported, according to District Vector  Borne Diseases Control Office, which is creating awareness among the public about the three diseases being spread by mosquito bites.

Dengue and Chikungunya diseases are being spread by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes which has bitten a person infected with the disease and will also spread from person to person. But Malaria is spread by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Female Anopheles mosquitoes pick up the parasite from infected people when they bite to obtain blood needed to nurture their eggs. Inside the mosquito the parasites reproduce and develop. When the mosquito bites again, the parasites are injected and pass into the blood of the person  being bitten.

According to the statistics from the District Vector Borne Diseases Control Office, there were 72 cases of Malaria detected in 2012 and from 2017 to Apr. 24, 2019, there are no cases of Malaria being detected. In 2012, a total of 4,22,926 blood samples were collected out of which, 72 Malaria cases were detected. 2013: 4,09,224 blood samples collected – 63 detected; 2014: 4,06,239 blood samples collected – 54 detected; 2015: 4,63,888 blood samples collected – 34 detected and in 2016, a total of 4,70,731 blood samples were collected out of which 43 cases of Malaria were detected.

In 2017: 5,56,674 people, 2018: 6,16,815 and from January to Apr. 24, 2019, a total of 1,47,100 people underwent blood tests and not a single malaria case has been detected. From 2012 till date, no deaths have occurred due to Malaria and the Health Department has the aim of making the district Malaria-Free by 2020.

Dengue cases: A total of five people have died of Dengue in the district from 2012 till date. In 2013, a total of 334 cases were detected out of which three persons died and in 2017, 843 cases were detected, resulting in the death of two persons.

In 2012-15 cases, 2014-65, 2015- 382, 2016-582 and in 2018- 49 cases of Dengue were detected. From January to Apr. 24, 2019, no Dengue cases have been detected.

Normally, death does not occur due to Chikungunya fever but the patient suffers from long-term pain. Now, there are instances of patients being cured in 15 days, but deaths occur due to Dengue and Malaria. The three diseases are spread by mosquitoes. — Dr. S. Chidambara, District Vector Borne Diseases Control Officer