AGARTALA, July 7 (TIWN): After a lull, one malaria patient died at Manikpur PHC in Longtharai Valley subdivision in Dhalai district taking the total death toll to 61, according to official sources. Alampriya Tripura (1), who was admitted at Manikpur PHC with high fever breathed her last today despite doctor’s efforts to save her life.She was resident of Puranadhar Roaja Para, a remote village of Chowmanu RD block.

Malaria continues to create havoc in hilly areas as 7787 more fever patients were diagnosed with high fever during the past 24 hours. Out of whom 1412 patients were diagnosed with malaria. As of now, the state registered a total of 1, 36,001 fever patients since July 17 and out whom 23,648 patients were diagnosed with PF case.

To tackle the epidemic like situation, the Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine has started organizing special medical camps in rural areas. Two special medical teams have been sent to Tulpuibari BOP and Govindabari BOP to conducts medical camps. Teams which were sent there through chopper, are expected to return tomorrow.

As part of precautionary measures, the government has already started spraying DDT in different malaria prone areas. Besides, blood slides have been collecting randomly to identify the malaria cases across the state. In a press release, the department claimed there is no dearth of anti-malaria drugs since hospitals have enough stock of such medicines. If the situation requires, the government would procure more medicines even from outside the state.

According to experts, the department had not taken any initiative to control malaria even after availability of funds from the Central government leading to the disastrous situation in the tribal belts. Besides, there has been allegation of using low-effective anti-malaria medicines despite the fact that the entire state was declared as malaria resistant zone. It means use of second generation of anti-malaria drugs is must to treat malaria patients. However, Health Minister Badal Chowdhury refuted the charge of using low-effective anti-malaria medicines.