Preventive measures to fight malaria in Asom

Guwahati, May 1 (UNI) Preventive measures on a war footing to check a malaria epidemic outbreak in Asom have been undertaken though the casualty figures were relatively low this year Altogether 25 malaria deaths have been reported from across the state between January to April, with close to 10000 people affected with the germ.

Informing this at a press meet here today, state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said, '' We have taken all preventive measures and are well equipped with medicine and staff to prevent the outbreak of the disease in a large-scale as was last year.'' No alert has been sounded yet, though we are taking all possible preventive measures, he added.

He informed that between January to April last year, 80 deaths due to malaria had been reported and 1.25 lakh population was infected with the germ. A total of 304 people had died of malaria last year.

Mr Sharma said most patients, who have died of malaria this year, had contracted the germ from the neighbouring states.

He said, of the 25 deaths reported so far, 12 of them had contacted the germ from their workplace in the neighbouring Nagaland and Meghalaya.

We have written to the Centre to direct the respective state governments to undertake preventive measures to check the outbreak of a malaria epidemic. Our state health department has completed first phase of malaria deterrents spraying and the second phase will start from today, he added.

Citing an example, the minister pointed out that all the five people who had died in Nalbari, including Baska, district had contacted the malaria germ while working in the coal mines in Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

Since they returned home to Asom after the disease and died here, the deaths are counted on our list, though the place of origin of the disease in another state, he said.

UNI