22 suspected malaria cases in week

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 3

As many as 22 suspected cases of malaria were reported in the past one week at Janta Nagar colony in the city.

Doctors at the urban primary healthcare centre attributed the sudden increase in malaria patients to the recent spell of rain and prevailing unhygienic conditions in the area that mostly houses slums along Sirhind Canal.

According to doctors, until 20 days ago, they came across one patient with malaria symptoms in the interval of four-five days but recently, they witnessed a sudden increase in the number of patients.

Dr Arvinder Singh, medical officer (MO), Urban Primary Health Centre, Janta Nagar, said, “We have witnessed around 22 suspected cases of malaria. After examining symptoms and conducting initial lab tests at the centre, we have sent all these samples for confirmatory test (for malaria) to the Civil Hospital. Till the final report comes, we have started medication of these patients. It is often observed that more than 70-80 per cent of these samples are tested positive in the confirmatory test.”

“Unseasonal spell of rain recently, the colony’s location along Sirhind Canal, prevailing unhygienic conditions and anaemic residents of the area (from low socio-economic status) have triggered sudden increase in malaria patients here. We have been carrying out field activity to spread awareness and ensure cleanliness in the area,” added Singh.

He said apart from ensuring cleanliness and avoiding water stagnation in the residential area and its surroundings, people also need to have nutritious diet to ensure better immunity levels.

One of the malaria patients requesting anonymity said, “Stagnation of water is a big problem in our area. Even mild rain inundates almost every part of the colony. Moreover, there are poor hygienic conditions in the colony. Owing to lack of seriousness on the part of the authorities concerned, people of our area fall prey to such diseases easily.”

Civil Surgeon Dr Hari Narain Singh said, “If there is a malaria case found positive in any area in the district, our teams from the epidemiology unit carry out field activity and sprinkling of spray is done around 50 houses where the case is detected. As of now, the matter is not in my knowledge. I have to check with the official concerned to provide me actual details.”