More than 140 perish in Malaria in West Bengal

Kolkata, Nov 22 (UNI) More than 140 people have perished in Malaria in West Bengal this year.

To a question in the state Assembly today, Health Minister Surjya Kanta Mishra said Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts accounted for most of the deaths.

As many as 1.13 lakh malaria positive cases were detected this year against 85,784 last year, he said.

Seven people died of dengue in the state between January one and October 31.

Of the 945 blood samples tested for dengue between January one and November 15, 21 were tested positive.

No chikunguniya death was reported in the state, he informed.

The government had taken adequate measures to treat dengue cases in state-run and private hospitals.

Arrangements had also been made to destroy mosquito larvae and conduct awareness campaigns in the media.

The state had adequate facilities for Elisa tests, but had to send samples to the National Institute of Virulogy for pandemic disease testing as per Central directives, the Minister stated.

UNI SJC KK RN1801