AI‑Assisted Drone Patrol Boosts Vector‑Borne Disease Prevention in Gujarat

Gujarat’s Rajkot city has embraced artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicles to strengthen its defense against dengue, malaria, and other mosquito‑borne threats. The municipal health department launched an AI‑driven drone patrol that scanned the city’s 95.27 km² area, marking 10,333 possible breeding grounds.

Using machine‑learning models, the system distinguished water bodies that could serve as mosquito habitats, such as flood‑prone streets, river‑bank gullies, and abandoned pits. Field crews responded to 5,605 of these sites, applying larvicides or eliminating stagnant water. The drones themselves logged 149 operational hours, delivering precise insecticide drops where manual access is hazardous.

The pilot covered strategic sections of ten wards, focusing on locales where conventional spraying is difficult, such as narrow alleys and deep trenches. Health workers on the ground are corroborating the AI findings and conducting follow‑up inspections.

Alongside the tech‑driven effort, traditional campaigns continued. Between October 1 and 7, over 103,000 households received instructions and tools for larval control, while 953 homes were fogged. Mobile fogging units tackled high‑mosquito‑density neighborhoods, and large public venues were also sprayed.

The department also surveyed 303 non‑residential complexes—including construction sites, schools, hospitals, industrial parks, and religious venues—issuing notices to 260 residential and 37 commercial property owners for violations. Administrative charges were levied under municipal bylaws. Health workers reached 247,323 citizens, handed out 4,664 chlorine tablets and 889 oral rehydration packets, and performed 2,671 rapid tests for water‑related illnesses. Officials continue to urge residents to keep premises dry, remove potential breeding sites, and cooperate with drone teams.