KARACHI: Sindh Malaria Control Programme has recorded 52,377 cases across the Sindh province from January to July 2019 while such cases are increasing day by day in different districts after heavy rains.
According to the data released by Malaria Control Program Sindh, a total of 52,377 malaria cases occurred across the province in 2019 till July. The most of cases were detected from Thatta (10,191), Sujawal (4,428), Larkana ( 4,121), Tando Muhammad Khan (3,994), Badin (3602), Mirpurkhas (3,523), and Umerkot (3,183).
Around 11,49,875 malaria-suspected cases were reported across the Sindh province from 1st Jan to 31 July 2019 out of which 52,377 were tested positive.
Malariaáis a mosquito-borne disease and its outbreak took place after monsoon rains due to which thousands of people fell sick in whole Sindh. The malaria cases were common in rural areas of Sindh province as compared urban areas, while dengue cases were generally reported from urban areas. Up to 1,873 malaria cases were detected in Karachi in 2019 at microscopic Centers working in the city for treatment of malaria patients. The number of malaria cases was low in Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban cities as compared with rural areas of the province.
However, reporting was also observed in coastal areas of Karachi city and its slums area. No death was reported from malaria at 600 microscopic Centers operating all over the province.
The number of malaria cases has significantly increased in rural areas of Sindh in the last couple years due to unavailability of funds which have compelled Sindh Malaria Control Programme to suspend malaria control activities all over the province.
Director, Malaria Control Program Sindh, Dr Mahmood Iqbal, while talking to PPI, said malaria control activities had been resumed across the province after the release of quarterly budget and malaria cases would be controlled in upcoming months.