AGARTALA, July 8 (TIWN): Even as there was no fresh malaria death in the state during the past 24 hours, the situation continues to remain grim in the state’s tribal dominated areas with 1486 patients battling for life.

Altogether 61 malaria deaths were reported since June while 24,880 patients were diagnosed with positive and 1486 malaria patients are still admitted in government-run hospitals, according to latest report.

The Council of Ministers today reviewed the overall situation prevailing in the state in the wake of malaria outbreak. In the meeting, some important decisions were taken to tackle the situation. It was decided to introduce the procedure of taking the malaria affected patients from their respective houses to hospitals and providing nutritious food items to them.

The state government has already written to the Centre for sending anti malaria drugs to tide over the prevailing situation. The government also adopted steps to create awareness to control dengue and Japanese encephalitis among the people by spraying DDT in different areas of the villages and city as well.  Besides, the DMs were asked to take necessary steps in giving Rs. 50,000 to those families where the bread earners died of malaria.  

Meanwhile, Health Minister Badal Chowdhury today claimed the malaria outbreak has been largely contained in the state with no fresh death report today. Speaking to media at Dak Bunglow of TSCEL, Belonia, he said that the figure of malaria affected patients has been reducing substantially due well-coordinated efforts,

“The Health department officials are working hard to control the malaria outbreak resulting in reduction in the malaria patients” he said.

A total of 1, 36,000 people were admitted in different hospitals and health camps till date. Out of them, total 23,648 were found affected with malaria. Total 24,057 patients were admitted in the hospitals with 11,317 patients diagnosed with malaria parasite.