Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], August 19 (ANI): Gujarat is focusing on disease prevention, timely diagnosis and treatment as part of its public health priorities.
As per a release, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Government of Gujarat has strengthened surveillance, testing, treatment and mosquito control to prevent diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya.
According to data up to Week 33 of 2026, the state recorded a 45 per cent decline in malaria cases, a 39.1 per cent decline in dengue cases and a 48.1 per cent decline in chikungunya cases compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to data released by the Health Department of the Government of Gujarat on World Mosquito Day, more than 1.09 Crore blood samples were tested up to Week 33 of 2025, detecting 1,407 malaria cases. During the same period in 2026, after testing more than 1.11 crore blood samples, the number declined to 774. Dengue cases also declined from 1,293 to 788, while chikungunya cases fell from 154 to 80. During this period, not a single death due to malaria or dengue was recorded.
The state has also strengthened its testing system to ensure timely detection and treatment of diseases. Diagnostic centres for dengue and chikungunya are operational at 42 hospitals affiliated with medical colleges. Up to Week 33 of 2026, more than 83,000 serum samples for dengue and more than 12,000 samples for chikungunya have been tested at these centres, meaning a total of nearly 96,000 samples have been tested for both diseases.
To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, the Government of Gujarat has taken surveillance efforts to households across the state. During the first phase of the house-to-house campaign in 2026, from April 27 to May 6, 89 per cent coverage was achieved through fever surveillance, anti-larval activities and health education. In the second phase, from July 1 to 10, 19,558 teams brought more than 6.51 crore people under surveillance. During this period, more than 2,57,000 blood samples were collected, and the 28 malaria patients identified were provided treatment.
The Government of Gujarat's special campaign has focused not only on disease control but also on preventing mosquito breeding. During house-to-house surveillance, more than 29.63 lakh mosquito breeding sites were eliminated across the state, while fogging was carried out in more than 3,21,000 houses.
More than 1 lakh people across 116 villages in 24 malaria-sensitive districts were covered during the first round of insecticide spraying. Spraying for the second round began on August 1. Meanwhile, 497 vector control teams have been deployed across districts and municipal corporations in the state to intensify fever surveillance and anti-larval activities in vulnerable areas during the monsoon.
To control mosquito larvae, larvivorous fish have also been released at 5,024 permanent waterlogging sites across the state as of the end of July 2026. This measure has been adopted to control mosquito breeding at an early stage. In addition, adequate availability of medicines, larvicides and essential equipment has been ensured, while the status of vector-borne diseases is being monitored at daily, weekly and monthly levels. (ANI)
Gujarat's mosquito-borne disease campaign reduces malaria by 45% and dengue by 39%
