Cases of Malaria likely to increase

RAIPUR: Health authorities in Chhattisgarh fear a larger number of malaria cases this year as supplies of 112 metric tons (MT) of synthetic parathyroid, a medicated spray used to kill DDT resistant female anopheles mosquitoes (carriers of the parasite), have not been received from the Centre.
The state has already witnessed five deaths this year (till May) and over 100 affected cases are reported daily in government run hospitals and medical centres.In May, even before the onset of monsoon, 3,300 cases of malaria were reported in the state but the actual number is higher as a majority of people in the interiors and tribal areas of districts like Korba, Bastar and Dantewada do not visit hospitals and still rely on witchcraft and local quacks for treatment.
According to sources, the Union government had started supplying synthetic parathyroid to the state government in 2004-05 to control the breeding of a species of female anopheles mosquitoes, which is resistant to conventional insecticide, the DDT. Ever since the introduction of Synthetic Parathyroid, which is sprayed before monsoons in open areas (37MT for a population of 10 lakh people), there has been a considerable decline in the number of reported Malaria cases- from 100 per thousand people to 70 per thousand people.
The Centre has, however, failed to supply the drug this year, leading to fear of a higher number of cases this year.
Talking to TOI, Dr R N Netam, joint director health, Bastar division, which witnesses a large number of cases every year, said the spray of the drug is must in these areas as DDT is not totally effective.
He said there had been a remarkable decline in malaria cases in the past years and he attributed it to the spray of synthetic parathyroid and other precautionary measures like free distribution of lakhs of medicated bed nets etc. However, he maintained that the spray was essential to eradicate the DDT resistant mosquitoes.
According to Dr Jaiprakash, nodal officer for vector borne disease, the Centre had placed the order for 112 Metric Tonnes of Synthetic Parathyroid and had assured it's timely supply. He said
the delay had been apparently caused at the supplier's end and the drug was expected to arrive soon. He admitted that ideally the drug has to be sprayed before the monsoons.
Jaiprakash also revealed that last year the Centre had not supplied the drug but had informed the state government in time and advised them to make necessary arrangements for its local purchase. "We had done it last year but this year we had no idea about the delay being caused," he said.
179 malaria deaths have occurred in the state in the past four years. According to health officials, 90 people died due to Malaria last year which was more than double the number of fatalities (42) in 2011. The death toll was reportedly 47 in 2010. The worst hit districts of the state are Raipur, Bastar and Bilaspur.