Malaria claims 43 lives in Asom, now under control: CM

Guwahati, Apr 18 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said 43 people have so far died of malaria, which had taken the form of an epidemic in some districts of the state.

However, he said the disease is under control now.

Talking to newspersons here Mr Gogoi said Lakhimpur district accounted for the maximum deaths of 25 followed by Golaghat with 13 deaths since February this year.

Marigaon and Sonitpur districts have reported three and two deaths respectively, he said.

Baska and Goalpara in lower Asom have also been affected by the disease but preventive measures have already been taken by the authorities, he added.

The disease is fully under conrol now and no fresh deaths have been reported from anywhere in the state during the last three days, he said.

The Chief Minister has instructed Additional Chief Secretary C K Das to visit the affected areas and take proper preventive measures.

Meanwhile, expert teams from Delhi and Kolkata will be reaching today in the affected areas to suppliment the state government's works in controlling the disease.

He said the state authorities did not face any shortage of medicines.

The disease have been reported from February this year and till now 4087 positive cases have been reported from the affected areas of the district, he said.

He also revealed that due to model code of conduct in force in the state, the authorities could not distribute mosquito nets to the affected people.

However, the state government has sought permission from the Election Commission to allow the state government in providing the mosquito nets to the affected people, he said.

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