AGARTALA, July 5 (TIWN): Healthcare personnel today diagnosed 1,222 more patients with malaria parasite across the state. The entire malaria afflicted population rose to 21,237 today. A total of 5,645 fever patients were diagnosed across the state today, an official communiqué said here today.The state government has adopted the highest possible measure to combat the malaria outbreak that cost sixty lives till date. No new case of malaria death was reported from anywhere in the state today, the communiqué said. 1,24,592 patients suffering with fever were diagnosed across the state including institutional treatment in hospitals and health camps till date since the beginning of institutional malaria treatment delivery on June 13.A high level team of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program recently visited the state and inspected several rural hospitals of the state.

The team comprising of NVBDCP Additional Director Dr. Avadesh Kumar, Regional Director (Malaria) Dr. Satyajit Sen and Entomologist Dr. Sukhvir Singh visited distant hamlets and government hospitals, PHC, CHC and health sub-centers in Dhalai, Gomati, Khowai and South Tripura districts to assess reason behind the sudden outbreak.

The official communiqué today said that the state government continued pursuit with the central government for approval of a second expert team for figuring out the reason of the massive outbreak of malaria. The state government recently wrote to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to approve government purchase of more anti-malaria drugs.