The Gujarat Health Department has collected over 94 lakh blood samples for malaria testing in 2026, marking a record-high surveillance effort as the state scales up its monsoon vector-borne disease response. More than 19,500 health teams have conducted house-to-house visits, reaching a population of over 6.51 crore across Gujarat to screen, detect, and treat mosquito-borne illnesses including malaria, dengue, and chikungunya.

Scale of the Testing Drive

Of the 94 lakh blood samples tested for malaria, 486 individuals returned positive results — all of whom have been provided free treatment by the state government, according to official statements. A second round of house-to-house visits identified 28 new malaria cases, with treatment initiated immediately upon detection.

For other vector-borne diseases, the department has established special diagnostic centres at 42 medical college-attached hospitals across the state. These centres have processed 65,293 serum samples for dengue and 9,963 serum samples for chikungunya.

Vector Control on the Ground

Field operations have been extensive. Authorities have destroyed more than 29 lakh mosquito breeding sites statewide, while fogging operations have been carried out in over 3 lakh houses. To address stagnant water bodies that persist year-round, larvivorous fish — which feed on mosquito larvae — have been introduced at 4,998 locations, offering a biological, chemical-free layer of control.

The first round of insecticide spraying has covered approximately 1.06 lakh people across 116 villages in 24 districts identified as sensitive to vector-borne disease transmission. A second round of spraying is scheduled to commence on 1 August.

Government Leadership and Community Outreach

The campaign is being implemented under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, guided by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and led on the ground by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya. Pansheriya has appealed to sarpanches across Gujarat to mobilise community support, framing the anti-vector drive as a people's movement rather than a purely administrative exercise.

The Health Department has confirmed that adequate stocks of anti-malaria medicines, insecticides, and larvicides are available statewide. Awareness campaigns are running across social and print media platforms.

Monitoring and What Comes Next

Disease trends are being tracked on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to guide the state's evolving response, officials noted. With the monsoon season at its peak, the second round of insecticide spraying beginning in August will be a key indicator of whether the state can hold transmission rates at current low levels. The positivity rate among tested samples — 486 cases from 94 lakh tests — points to effective early-detection containment, though public health experts typically caution that monsoon transmission risk remains elevated through September.