Eleven people die of summer diseases in Tripura in a week

Agartala, Jun 29 (UNI) At least 11 persons fell victim to malaria and other diseases in various hilly and remote areas of North and South Tripura during the past week, health department officials today said.

Besides, frequent health camps and DDT spraying in the affected areas of the state, the authority has launched anti-malaria campaign across the state to generate public awareness among the masses, they said.

According to officials here, hospitals have recorded huge number of cases of malaria and other summer diseases since April last and more than 50 people have already died of these diseases.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has rushed a six-member team of Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) headed by Dr Anil Prakash, Deputy Director of Northeastern Regional Medical Research Centre of ICMR, and Dr P K Mahahan, to the state, who has been working in bordering Mizoram and Asom, collecting blood samples.

''The team is conducting intensive study on mosquito genetics and the blood samples from malaria-affected patients, About 52 per cent of the blood samples collected in hilly areas were found to have Plasmodium Falciparum(PF) component,'' said health department officials.

As many as 22,000 malaria cases were detected in Tripura last year and considering the figure, the Centre has sanctioned 1,13 000 special nets for the state, which would be distributed to the BPL families, sources added.

UNI