As many as 1,547 malaria cases have surfaced in Karachi till September 2016 at 32 malaria centres operating across the city.
Sindh Malaria Control Programme Senior Microscopist Muhammad Khaili, while talking to the media, said 63,296 malaria-suspected cases were reported at 32 microscopic centres established in public sector hospitals of Karachi out of which 1,547 were diagnosed malaria, while no death was reported from malaria so far.
He informed that peak season of malaria has begun in August every year and continued till February. He said malaria cases were more common in rural areas of the city as compared to urban areas. He said Karachi Health director had distributed mosquito bed nets in rural areas of Karachi to prevent people from malaria, while anti-malaria fumigation drive was also carried out in slums areas.
He said that malaria diagnostic & treatment centres were established in Civil Hospital Karachi, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Sindh Government Lyari Hospital, Sindh Government Hospital Ibrahim Hyderi, Sindh Government Hospital New Karachi, Basic Health Units (BHUs), Rural Health Center (RHCs) and other centres.
He further informed that majority of malaria cases were detected from Manghopir, rural areas of Korangi and Orangi Town. He said that anti-malaria spray drive has been conducted in rural area of the city to prevent people from malaria.
In 2015, a total 44,731 malaria cases had been reported across the Sindh province. The malaria is a mosquito-borne disease and its outbreak took place after monsoon rains due to which thousands of people fell sick every year.
