Similar to last year, most cases have been reported from rural areas with six cases from Dadri.

Badalpur, Dankaur, Bisrakh, Gharbara, Girdharpur, Jewar, Dayanakpur, Jarcha and Bhangel had been declared ‘problem areas’ after close to 300 cases were reported here last year.

Though the ‘problem areas’ have been identified, preventive steps, including plans for fogging, cannot be taken up till funds are allotted by the administration, officials said.

Nanak Chand Sharma, in-charge of the Malaria Cell of the Health department, said, “Fogging has begun in urban areas. It can be done in rural areas only when we get the funds.”

Sources say it would take at least one more month for funds to be allotted and preventive measures to be put in place in rural areas. But Chief Medical Officer Dr V K Kannaujia said the process would be done in two weeks.

Patients from rural areas have been admitted to government health centers in rural areas while the only person diagnosed with Malaria from urban areas is admitted in a private hospital in Noida.

With temperatures becoming conducive for the spread of malaria, health officials say there could be a rise in the number of cases shortly.

Officials in the Health department a Sector-15 say the situation has come up because of sudden change in temperatures.

The difference in maximum and minimum temperatures has been hovering around 18 to 20 degrees for the past two days, which, officials say, weakens the body’s ability to fight ailments.