DK records zero local malaria cases, surveillance continues

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada, once an epicentre of malaria, is progressing towards freedom from the disease. Malaria cases dropped from 4,741 in 2017 to 87 in 2024 and 56 in 2025, and no local cases were reported on the portal this year. However, health officials said surveillance continues to prevent sporadic cases, particularly among migrant labourers from Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and other states.Dr Naveen Chandra Kulal, district surveillance officer, said 2025 did not witness any malaria cases in the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the govt in over a month. "In 2025, the majority of the local cases were reported in Mangaluru city limits. In addition to local cases, hospitals in the city reported malaria patients from other states. Those who stayed for more than 15 days in other districts or states prior to the diagnosis, are not considered local cases. Hence, the challenge before us is to check the spread of malaria from patients from other districts and states," Dr Kulal said.
The health department monitored the migrant population, especially labourers from other states, under hectic surveillance measures, he said, adding that cases of fever were reported on the IDSP regularly.DK free from KFDDHO Dr Thimmaiah HR said that Dakshina Kannada was excluded from the list of endemic districts for Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) or monkey fever."Currently, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga are considered endemic to KFD. Dakshina Kannada reported the last case of KFD in Beluvai in 2014. Thereafter, no cases of KFD were reported in the district. However, the health department continued its surveillance measures. Autopsies are conducted in case of monkey deaths regularly, and ticks are collected to confirm whether the animal died due to KFD," he added.