The Karnataka State Health and Family Welfare Department is gearing up to deal with the likely increase in number of malaria cases after pre-monsoon rains in May.
The department has already sent a circular to district health officials to prepare for surveillance, case detection, examination and treatment. It is also implementing the Urban Malaria Scheme in Bangalore, Bellary, Belgaum, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Hospet, Raichur and Tumkur through local bodies.
As part of the scheme, the local bodies will undertake anti-larval operations, wherein larvae eating fishes will be introduced in water bodies to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, and Pyrethrum (insecticide) will be sprayed in and around houses where malaria cases have been detected.
Health Department Director Dhanya Kumar told Express: “Rains could help mosquitoes breed, hence indoor residual spray operation (IRS) and other awareness activities have been taken up. As a precaution, the district health officers will depute junior health officials to conduct house-to-house survey.” He said last year the state had achieved 75 per cent reduction in the number of malaria cases when compared to 2006. Last year, the department recorded 16,453 positive cases of malaria and no deaths, while in 2006 65,842 positive cases and 25 deaths were reported.
“The National Health policy goal was to reduce malaria by 50 per cent by the end of 2011 and another 25 per cent by the end of 2015. The state has reached the first target in 2012 and will cover the rest very soon,” said Kumar.
He listed the reasons for the drop in malaria cases as reduced rainfall and an increase in house-to-house survey.
