Malaria claims 62 lives in Tripura

Agartala, Jul 4: The toll due fatal Malaria mounted to 62 in Tripura so far with reports of three more casualties at Maldapara in Dhalai district.

Reports today said three children in north Tripura's Dhalai district succumbed to mosquito bite disease yesterday, taking the toll to 62 this year and 12n this month, official soruces said.

Health minister Tapan Chakraborty told the sources that the Dhalai district had already become Malaria drug resistant prompting the government to procure second-generation drug in combating vulnerability to the deadly disease.

Special medical teams had been sent to remote locations of all four districts to fight the disease. Three districts barring west Tripura were found vulnerable to Malaria.

The toll has increased from 20 in 2005 to 44 in 2007 despite measures taken by the government.

Mr Chakraborty said a total of 18,008 were diagnosed with the fatal disease in 2005, while the number of affected people mounted to 23,375 in 2007.

He said the health department was told to use second-generation medicine instead of traditional one to prevent the disease.

UNI