Ludhiana: As two cases of malaria and one case of dengue were reported in the district recently, the health department is gearing up to check vector-borne diseases. The district health department has already detected larvae at two locations. According to official data, two malaria cases have been reported so far this year, with one originating from Dhandra Road and another from the CMC Doctor campus. Meanwhile, a health department official confirmed one dengue case has been reported from Anand Colony in the Koom Kalan area.Regarding the latest larva report, out of 735,108 houses checked until March 22, breeding was found in two residences located in Maloud and Sidhwan Bet. An official stated that efforts to check vector-borne diseases have commenced, alongside steps to create public awareness. Consequently, the department has written to higher authorities to hire 300 breeding checkers tasked with inspecting properties and destroying larvae using larvicide. However, no checkers have been hired yet; despite requests to the state health department, a response is still awaited.Health Dept Battles LarvaeDespite the staffing delay, the department held 169 camps and distributed 177 posters and 1,015 pamphlets for awareness by the end of March. Sources noted that since Ludhiana reported 128 malaria cases last year—the highest since 2014—higher authorities have mandated weekly awareness programs every Tuesday targeting migrant populations in slum areas and brick kilns. Residents are now urging the health department and the Municipal Corporation, responsible for fogging, to take early preventive measures.Hardeep Singh, a local resident, remarked that early intervention against breeding could reduce patient numbers. He emphasized, however, that the public must also take preventive steps and assist departments by ensuring water does not remain stagnant in containers. This collaborative approach between civic authorities and the community is seen as vital to preventing a repeat of previous years’ spikes, especially as the department navigates administrative hurdles regarding specialized manpower and the increasing vulnerability of high-risk clusters across the district.
