Malaria toll in Delhi rises to 6

New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) After dengue and chikungunyaoutbreak, malaria is now emerging as a major health threat inthe national capital, as the death toll from this vector-bornedisease has risen to six. According to a senior municipal health official themalaria deaths were reported at various hospitals in from Julyto September. "Out of the six cases, two of the victims were fromDelhi, three hailed from Uttar Pradesh and one from Haryana,"the official said today. Incidentally, the deaths come at a time when theneighbouring country Sri Lanka has been declared malaria-freeby the World Health Organisation. The national capital is thus under threat now from allthree vector-borne diseases. Two deaths due to malaria had been earlier reported inDelhi this season while the number of cases of thisvector-borne disease in the national capital has risen to 22till September 17. Praveen Sharma, 30, a resident of Mandawali, died atSafdarjung Hospital after suffering multi-organ failuretriggered by malarial complications earlier this month. A 62-year-old man from Jyoti Nagar had also died ofmalarial complications at AIIMS in July. Municipal Health Officer of South Delhi MunicipalCorporation, Dr B K Hazarika said, "Four of the six deathstook places at AIIMS, one at Safdrajung Hospital and one atDDU Hospital." The civic bodies have, however, claimed that "thesedeaths were suspected malaria deaths and confirmation is yetawaited." Sri Lanka is the second country in the WHO South-EastAsia Region to eliminate malaria after Maldives. The WHO made the declaration that the island nation was"malaria-free" on September 5 and called it a "remarkablepublic health achievement" by the island nation. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasitesare spread to people through the bites of infected femaleAnopheles mosquitoes. According to WHO, about 3.2 billion people nearly half ofthe world’s population are at risk of malaria. In 2015, therewere roughly 214 million malaria cases and an estimated4,38,000 malaria deaths globally. In India too malaria is a major public health concern.Over 560 people died due to the disease in 2014, 440 in 2013and 519 in 2012, according to NVBDCP. Meanwhile, at least 34 people have died due tochikungunya and dengue which have affected close to 4,000people in the national capital. PTI KNDRG