Mangalore, Udupi have most malaria cases in Karnataka

Mangalore, August 20, 2014 – Nearly 85 per cent of malaria cases in Karnataka are observed in two urban centres of Mangalore and Udupi.

This was revealed at a meeting of officials convened by the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) in Mangalore on Tuesday.

A Prakash, who represented NVBDCP, said that Mangalore and Udupi have been witnessing cases of malaria since 1996.

Of the total number of malaria cases reported in Karnataka during January-July 2014, the share of Mangalore and Udupi stood at 55 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively. The total number of malaria cases from these two districts crossed 4,000 during the period, he said.

Nearly 70 per cent of these malaria cases are reported from construction sites in the region.

He suggested that the administration have regular meetings with the builders in Mangalore and Udupi.

The administration should initiate measures to register workers at the construction sites and to monitor their health condition.

Ramachandra Bairy, District Health Officer of Udupi, said that steps have been taken to list the names of workers at construction sites in the district with details such as their phone numbers.

AB Ibrahim, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, asked the authorities of Mangalore City Corporation to prepare a list of construction sites and the people working there.

Suresh Shetty, a person representing a non-governmental organisation, urged the health officials to take actions against the hospitals and clinical laboratories if they fail to report the cases of malaria to the Health Department. Business Line