Tripura malaria outbreak update: 20 dead, 400 ill

Northern Tripura has been fighting Malaria and the death toll now stands at 20 and atleast 400 people are ill due to the disease.

By: Editorial Team | | Published: June 13, 2014 6:06 pm

Northern Tripura has been fighting Malaria and the death toll now stands at 20 and atleast 400 people are ill due to the disease.

“Twenty people died and more than 400 people have become ill in the past one week in Gandachera and Longtharai Valley sub-divisions (under Dhalai district). All the sick people have been admitted to government hospitals,’ Tripura’s Health Minister Badal Choudhury told reporters. The unofficial figure of deaths due to malaria stands at more than 30 and of those taken ill at over 600.

Majority of the affected include children and youth. Choudhury, who rushed to the malaria affected areas Friday along with the experts, said: ‘Four medical teams have been sent to the tribal dominated Gandachera and Longtharai Valley areas’. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar held a high-level meeting here Thursday and reviewed the situation. ‘To deal with the situation effectively, leaves of all doctors, nurses and health workers have been cancelled. Health officials are visiting remote villages and making arrangements to bring the malaria affected people to the government hospitals,’ the minister said. ‘We are contemplating to take punitive actions against the health workers for negligence of their duties and outbreak of the disease in a short span,’ he added. A helicopter was made ready to ferry the doctors, health staffs and patients in emergency. (Read: Chloroquine is now effective against malaria again!)

Five temporary medical camps are functioning in the affected areas to treat those down with malaria and take preventive measures. The government has been advised by the experts to use second-generation medicine instead of traditional medicines to prevent malaria deaths. The health department has already stocked sufficient medicines in each sub-division and health centre to ensure speedy and effective treatment. All eight northeastern states, besides West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka, are highly malaria prone, where several hundred people die every year. (Read: How is malaria treated?)

What are malaria symptoms?

Malaria is a dreaded vector-borne disease that caused around 627,000 deaths in 2012. You’ll be infected if a mosquito (like female anopheles) bites a person infected with malaria, and then bites you. Thankfully, malaria is now curable and preventable. However, it is still a dangerous disease that can take a massive toll on your health. Here are some of the common symptoms of malaria:

1. Fever

Fever is one of the common symptoms associated with malaria. And, if you are living in an area where there is stagnant water, then you should see a doctor to confirm if you have malaria.

2. Headache

People suffering from malaria will suffer from a serious headache. While, you can chosethese natural remedies over painkillers, it is advisable that you don’t ignore it if it is accompanied with fever and chills.

3. Chills

People suffering from Malaria may feel the need for a blanket even if the climate isn’t that cold. If you go to a doctor complaining of fever, headache and chills, it is likely he/she will recommend a blood test to diagnose malaria. (Read: 6 common malaria symptoms)

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With inputs from IANS

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Published : June 13, 2014 6:06 pm

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