Karnataka - Mangalore   

Mulky sees spurt in malaria cases

MANGALORE: There has been a spurt in the number of malaria cases reported in Mulky and surrounding areas. While 98 cases have been reported in the government's Community Health Centre in Mulky and Public Health Centre in Kemral, around 100 patients were admitted to private hospitals.

Increased construction activity without required precaution is blamed for the spurt in malaria cases.

District Malaria Officer Arun Kumar said the increase was more pronounced in Mulky where there had been practically no cases of malaria in the previous year. “The cases have increased despite preventive steps being taken in the last two months,” he said.

According to figures provided by a District Health and Family Welfare Officer, who wished to remain anonymous, 38 of the 98 cases of malaria reported at the Community Health Centre and the Primary Health Centre in Kemral were reported in June. Of the 38 cases, five were found infected by the serious version of malaria (caused by the plasmodium falciparum parasite) while the remaining were infected by the less serious plasmodium vivax parasite.

Dr. Kumar said the number of malaria cases would increase following heavy rainfall.

About 60 cases of malaria were reported last year in the surroundings of Mulky. According to Dr. Kumar, most of the 60 cases were reported from the Kemral PHC where patients from areas such as Sadashiva Nagar, Karnad, and Bijapur Colony near Mulky were screened. These are among the “marked areas” in the district for malaria where preventive steps were taken, he said.

There had been steady inflow of patients to private hospitals too. Since April, 78 persons had been treated at the Mulky Nursing Home. Four patients, who were infected with the p. faciparum parasite, were from the construction site in Yodeyarabettu in Mulky, said a doctor from Mulky Nursing Home. The Narayan Guru Hospital has treated 10 patients, including two infected with p. faciparum parasite. Patients were taken to Chetana Nursing Home.

A majority of the victims of malaria had been workers from North Karnataka and North India working on construction sites in Mulky. According to Mulky Town Panchayat president B.M. Asif, seven multi-storied buildings were coming up in the town. One such construction site was in Bappanadu near the Mulky bus-stand where nearly 15 cases of malaria had been reported, he said.

Dr. Kumar said health workers were conducting peripheral smear examination and taking preventive action, including generating awareness among people. Those affected with p. faciparum parasite were given the six-day artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) free of cost while the others were given 14-day treatment.

Mr. Asif said the town panchayat had been taking steps to ensure proper facilities at the construction sites. “A few days ago, we asked a construction firm to first build toilets and create other facilities for workers before starting the construction in Karnad,” Mr. Asif said.

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