Times of India
22 July 2010
Jaipur, India

The onset of monsoon heralds an outbreak of malaria as nearly 300 cases were reported in the last one week in the state. On an average, nearly 100 cases surfaced during the first week of July. However, in the last three weeks, nearly 1,000 cases have been recorded in the state.

The number of malaria cases is one–third this year, compared to last year. However, the sudden spurt in the cases has become a headache for the health officials.

According to officials of the department, nearly 3,700 cases have been registered in the state during 2010 while around 1,000 of these have been reported in July.

The incidence of water–borne diseases have also been on the rise over the past weeks. Multiple instances of water–borne diseases have been reported across the state. After Kota, Jaipur, Alwar and Pali, there were also reports of water–borne diseases from Nagaur district.

“Only few patients were found during the survey by medial teams under the chief medical and health officer of Nagaur. However, the officials have been instructed to ensure proper preventive measures,” said Dr B R Meena, additional director, health department.

Meanwhile, patients of waterborne diseases got treatment at the Kotputali district hospital for sixth day. On Wednesday, 53 new patients were reported to be admitted for vomiting and dysentery. More than 400 patients of water–borne diseases have so far been reported from nearly 40 villages of Alwar district. Following the sudden rise in the number of vomiting and dysentery patients, officials from health directorate have also been sent to monitor the situation.

The state health department has established seasonal disease control centres at the district level. However, the department has been unable to confirm the cause of the diseases. “The samples of water collected from the affected areas have shown no traces of contamination. Thus with exception of a few cases, where seepage was discovered in the supply line, cause of the mass disease cannot be confirmed,” said another official.

As a preventive measure, the health department had earlier supplied chlorine tablets to all the chief medical and health officers for tackling water–borne diseases. However, it seems the measures did not work properly.