Ahmedabad: On Monday, the health department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) released epidemic data for the month of April. The city recorded 642 cases of gastroenteritis, 55 cases of jaundice, and 155 cases of typhoid during this period. Additionally, there were 30 cases of simple malaria, three cases of severe malaria, and 29 cases of dengue reported in April.
Year-to-Date Statistics
From January 1 to April 30, Ahmedabad logged a total of 1,700 cases of gastroenteritis, 258 cases of jaundice, 588 cases of typhoid, 51 cases of simple malaria, 11 cases of severe malaria, one case of cholera, and 107 cases of dengue. These figures highlight the ongoing challenge of waterborne diseases in the city.
Water Quality Monitoring
In April, the AMC collected 52,420 water samples from different parts of the city for chlorine testing. Of these, 13 samples showed no chlorine content. Additionally, 7,382 water samples were taken for bacteriological testing, with 21 samples found unfit for consumption. The health department also collected nearly 139,000 blood samples for testing and analyzed 4,629 serum samples during the month.
High-Risk Zone Interventions
The eastern part of Ahmedabad has been identified as a high-risk zone by the corporation. In this area, work has begun on replacing drinking water pipelines. A total of 29 pockets have been marked as high-risk locations where cases of waterborne diseases were detected. Routine monitoring of drinking water samples is being carried out in these areas, and the incidence of waterborne diseases is showing a decline.
The AMC continues to emphasize the importance of clean water and public health measures to combat these diseases. Residents are advised to consume boiled or purified water and maintain hygiene to prevent infections.
