AGARTALA: At least 17 tribal villagers died of malaria since June 2 while many people were down with the deadly fever in two villages of Dhalai district, Health and Family Welfare Minister Badal Chowdhury said here.
While 10 villagers died at Girachandrapara, a remote village of Gandacherra subdivision during the past one week, seven deaths were reported from a tribal hamlet from
Longtharai Valley subdivision since June 2.
He said a medical team has left for Girachandrapara to conduct a special camp there while another team would leave for Longtharai Valley subdivision tomorrow.
Chief Medical Officer of Dhalai district has sent two teams to Girachandrapara with medicine and instant malaria diagnosis kits.
"All necessary steps have been taken to prevent further casualty and some medical teams have been working round the clock locally," he said.
Dhalai and South districts have been declared as drug resistant districts where first generation anti-malarial drugs do not work.
"We are using second generation of anti-malarial medicines," said Additional Director of Family Welfare Dr N Darlong.
A general advisory warning has been passed to all CMOs to take all precautionary measure to avoid an outbreak of malaria, he added.