Ahmedabad has seen 9,000 cases of dengue, malaria and chikungunya and reportedly 5 deaths.
As dengue and chikungunya cases increase in Ahmedabad, the health crisis has overtaken patients and reached doctors treating the diseases as well. In the last two months, around 24 resident doctors of the government-run VS Hospital have tested positive for mosquito-borne diseases.
"Lot of doctors here have been affected by dengue. They have been treated here," admitted Tabrez Noorani, a paediatrician at VS hospital who recently tested positive for dengue.
"The viral season is on and it is expected the numbers will be up", he added.
With medics getting infected, the Mayor Gautam Shah and Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar visited government hospitals on Monday claiming an action plan had already been put in place to counter the mosquito menace.
Officials blamed citizens' lack of awareness and cooperation for the rise in vector borne diseases.
"The cases have been reported from posh areas; they are not cooperating with the anti-malaria staff, which is carrying out surveys in these areas. They are not allowing the staffers to check if there are breeding places in their homes", said Gautam Shah, the Ahmedabad Mayor.
The numbers however suggest a serious public health crisis in underway.
This year alone, Ahmedabad has seen 9,000 cases of dengue, malaria and chikungunya and there have reportedly been 5 deaths as well. This month alone close to 700 people tested positive for dengue.