Spurt in malaria cases in tsunami hit Campbell Bay

Port Blair, Apr 22 (UNI) A sudden spurt in malaria cases in tsunami ravaged Campbell Bay Island have prompted the Health Department to take immediate steps to check the further spread.

A team of doctors and health administration officials have rushed to the Island along with fogging machines, medicines, mosquito nets and other items for distribution among the islanders, Director Health Department, N Sadasivan told here today.

He said the sudden spread of the disease could be due to ingress of saline water since tsunami disaster coupled with rainfall in February this year, which created an idle breeding ground for anopheles mosquito, the vector of malaria.

Besides, the poor drainage system of Campbell Bay is another reason for the sudden spurt, he said.

The situation had further aggravated by migration of labourers engaged by GREF and Civil Contractors, from hyper-endemic states like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal, Dr Sadasivan added.

The medical team have distributed 3000 mosquito nets in the island so far, he said adding that a few doctors have also been deputed to adjoining areas to supervise anti-malarial activities.

The department had also suggested some preventive measures for control of this vector-borne disease, including improving the drainage system, checking water stagnation, avoiding garbage dumping in drains and discouraging habitation in low lying areas as they are vulnerable to ingress of sea water during high tide.

UNI