The state health department officials shared that the incidences of malaria have been dropping by 20 per cent for two consecutive years in Maharashtra.
According to a data released by the state health department, while 19,303 cases were detected in 2021, the numbers dropped to 15,451 cases in 2022. This shows a 20% drop in annual cases.
Moreover, a comparison of cases in the periods between January and May 2022 and 2023, too, shows a 20% drop, said a state official. Till May this year, the state had 2,571 malaria cases.
In a big achievement, zero cases have been reported in five districts (Latur, Osmanabad, Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli) as per the state malaria report released on Tuesday, June 6. Meanwhile, 16 districts — Bhandara, Ratnagiri, Dhule, Nandurbar, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Nashik, Jalgaon, Washim, Sangli, Beed, Solapur, Aurangabad, Jalna and Yavatmal — reported one to 10 cases this year so far.
Officials said that the drop in cases was due to a slew of public health measures.
These numbers gain significance as India is working towards malaria elimination by 2030.
By 2027, the country has to achieve zero transmission, and if sustained for three years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) would declare elimination of the mosquito-borne parasitic infection from the country.
Share
Tweet
