Pre-monsoon malaria cases up by 125%

Express News Service 
 
Despite tall claims made by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) regarding the health services, the official records indicate that already 10,608 people have been affected by malaria in the city this year. Last year, 4,558 cases were reported during the first six months. 

The health experts consider it as “alarming” since the city has recorded over 10,000 cases of malaria even before the onset of monsoon. From January to June this year, 843-odd people have been found positive of malignant malaria (plasmodium falciparum) — an increase in nearly 750 cases as compared to the corresponding period of last year when 96 cases of falciparum were reported. 

This year, malaria has claimed one life already. Last year, several vector borne diseases had claimed 30 lives. 

Areas under borough II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX, declared malaria-prone by the KMC, have shown a spurt in plasmodium falciparum cases. 

Source: Indian Express
Date: July 10, 2009