District Health and Family Welfare Officer S. Chidambara has urged the public to keep their surroundings clean as the monsoon approaches.

He was speaking at the launch of a rally organised in front of the Sri Chamarajeshwara temple in Chamarajanagar on Friday. The event was jointly organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, and the office of the district vector-borne disease control officer, as part of World Malaria Day.

Dr. Chidambara said that with the rainy season nearing, people must be cautious to prevent water stagnation around their homes and other areas, which can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes if left unchecked. Malaria is spread through mosquito bites, and to eradicate it, cleanliness must be maintained at every place, he advised.

He said that Anopheles mosquitoes breed more during the rainy season, and therefore, it is essential to prevent water stagnation and maintain cleanliness in our surroundings. Larvivorous fish such as Gambusia and Guppy can be released in ponds and tanks to control mosquito larvae. If symptoms such as chills, fever, and sweating occur, people should visit the nearest health centre or hospital for treatment. Controlling mosquitoes is key to eliminating malaria, he noted.

Stressing the importance of raising public awareness about malaria eradication, he said mosquito nets should be used to protect against mosquito bites. Malaria, as well as diseases like dengue and chikungunya, can be prevented with these measures, Dr. Chidambara said.

District malaria officer Rajesh Kumar, District health education officer Doreswamy Naik, taluk health officer Srinivas, and others were present.

Nursing college students participated in the rally, holding placards and spreading awareness about malaria eradication. The rally was flagged off at Sri Chamarajeshwara temple and concluded at the district administration building, passing through B. Rachaiah Circle.