18 wards of Mangaluru declared malaria high risk areas

MANGALURU: After nine hours of continuous rain that lashed on May 29, the health department has declared 18 wards in the city as malaria high risk areas, where people have been asked to be extra precautions against vector-borne diseases.
While about 1,000 malaria cases have been reported in Dakshina Kannada district between January and May this year, more than 800 are in Mangaluru city.The department of health and family welfare has identified Derebail North, Derebail East, Derebail West, Derebail South, Derebail South-West, Bejai, Mannagudda, Kodialbail, Kadri South, Central Market, Bander, Court, Port, Cantonment, Milagres, Hoige Bazar, Bengre and Attavar in Mangaluru city as high risk wards. However, the DHO said people
need not be panic, but should be cautious against spread of communicable diseases.
“We have directed officials keep a tab on those high risk areas, where more vector-borne diseases reported. The department is fully prepared to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. We have labs in all hospitals to check blood smears for malaria and free treatment will be given. Meanwhile, the health team of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) also is ready to conduct blood tests and offer treatment. Action also is being taken to prevent stagnation of water and thereby prevent breeding of mosquitoes. All construction sites are under observation and mosquito breeding sources are being destroyed periodically. All hospitals have sufficient stock of medicines for malaria and other vector-borne diseases,” said DHO Ramakrishna Rao.
A total of 64,500 mosquito nets have been distributed in Mangaluru city in 2018, he said adding that awareness campaigns against vector-borne diseases are being held in all Primary Health Centres on all Thursdays.
“People should not neglect health when they have fever and headache. They should immediately go to nearest health centres. Till April this year, 804 cases of malaria reported in Mangaluru City limits, while the total number of cases reported in the district is 863. Meanwhile in May, approximately 145 cases of malaria reported in Mangaluru city. The district has recorded 83 cases of dengue, wherein 13 cases were reported in Mangaluru city,” Rao said.