KUMARGHAT /AGARTALA, May 15 (TIWN): In yet another outbreak of malaria and diarrhea have taken a tall at some of the rural hamlets in Kumarghat sub-division. But allegedly the health administration is not taking any preventive measures to deal with the situation effectively, claimed a section of locals.

According to the locals, Demdum, Juricherra, Maracherra, DM Colony, Mag slum, Tekhri and Jambaghan areas in Kumarghat sub-division are now under the grip of an outbreak of malaria and diarrhea. They further alleged that spraying of DDT has been stopped for long time.

Even, the health staff remained non-functioning in these rural areas to treat those down with malaria and diarrhea and to take preventive measures. As a result, the people of these areas are completely dependent on Fatikroy hospital at Kailashahar, locals added.

Reportedly, many people including children have fallen ill after drinking brook water and some of them are infected with malaria. According to health sources, in the last malaria epidemic, the state government had been advised by the experts to use second-generation medicines instead of traditional medicines to prevent malaria deaths. The health department had also stocked sufficient medicines in each subdivision and health centre to ensure speedy and effective treatment. But many of the Primary Health Centers (PHCs) do not have sufficient quantity of second generation medicines and Rapid Diagnostic Kits (RDK) at present. 

Earlier, a fresh outbreak has compounded the already grim situation, leading to deaths of 120 people across the state. Village after village has been affected, and a majority of the dead are children.

According to a report of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), over 80 people have died from malaria in Meghalaya this year. All the northeastern states, besides West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka, are highly malaria-prone. Over 100 people die every year from the disease in the seven northeastern states, excluding Sikkim. According to NVBDCP, malaria claimed 1,018 lives in 2010 in India, 754 in 2011, 519 in 2012, 440 in 2013, and 350 so far this year.