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Malaria deaths at record high in state
Pune: Malaria claimed 185 lives in the state from April 2010 to March this year, which is the highest annual number of casualties from the disease reported in the last seven years. Of the 185 casualties, Mumbai alone accounted for 137.
These are the figures from the latest epidemiology report on malaria released by the state health department in April this year. The state registered only around 60-65 deaths in 2003-04. Pune district may have acquired immunity to the mosquito-borne disease, with just four deaths in 2010-11. Notably, Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad did not report a single malarial death.
"There is a perceptible rise in malaria cases this year, which can be attributed to the huge construction activity in Mumbai and the rest of the state. Besides, consolidated surveillance has also resulted in enhanced detection of malaria cases in 2010-11," said V D Khanande, joint director (malaria) of the state health services, adding that a central government team recently evaluated the state's pre-monsoon preparations.
As many as 1,38,605 positive cases were recorded in the state in 2010-11, which is again high as compared to 85,435 cases recorded in the previous year.
In 2007, 67,850 cases were registered and 67,333 cases were registered in 2008. To control the growing mosquito menace, the state health department had to seek technical support and expertise from the Union government.
S B Nadoni, senior regional director (regional office) of the Union health and family welfare, said, "Efforts to reduce the mortality rate last year met with little success. In fact, Maharashtra reported more cases and deaths. The state even sought the Centre's intervention in curbing the menace in Mumbai and other parts of the state."
According to Nadoni, the components of the national malaria control strategy include the use of longlasting insecticides, bed nets, indoor residual sprays, early diagnosis and treatment of cases, management of the environment, forecasting, prevention and control of epidemics.
Avinash Bhondwe, former president of the Pune unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), said, "The number of malaria, dengue and chikungunya cases reported by the state health department is just the tip of the iceberg. A majority of the cases remain under-reported."
These are the figures from the latest epidemiology report on malaria released by the state health department in April this year. The state registered only around 60-65 deaths in 2003-04. Pune district may have acquired immunity to the mosquito-borne disease, with just four deaths in 2010-11. Notably, Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad did not report a single malarial death.
"There is a perceptible rise in malaria cases this year, which can be attributed to the huge construction activity in Mumbai and the rest of the state. Besides, consolidated surveillance has also resulted in enhanced detection of malaria cases in 2010-11," said V D Khanande, joint director (malaria) of the state health services, adding that a central government team recently evaluated the state's pre-monsoon preparations.
As many as 1,38,605 positive cases were recorded in the state in 2010-11, which is again high as compared to 85,435 cases recorded in the previous year.
In 2007, 67,850 cases were registered and 67,333 cases were registered in 2008. To control the growing mosquito menace, the state health department had to seek technical support and expertise from the Union government.
S B Nadoni, senior regional director (regional office) of the Union health and family welfare, said, "Efforts to reduce the mortality rate last year met with little success. In fact, Maharashtra reported more cases and deaths. The state even sought the Centre's intervention in curbing the menace in Mumbai and other parts of the state."
According to Nadoni, the components of the national malaria control strategy include the use of longlasting insecticides, bed nets, indoor residual sprays, early diagnosis and treatment of cases, management of the environment, forecasting, prevention and control of epidemics.
Avinash Bhondwe, former president of the Pune unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), said, "The number of malaria, dengue and chikungunya cases reported by the state health department is just the tip of the iceberg. A majority of the cases remain under-reported."
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