Ernakulam sick of Imported Malaria

KOCHI:  With the communicable diseases like malaria spreading in the district, the authorities with the Health Department are planning a slew of measures targeting the migrant labourers here.Though the cases of malaria have been on the rise in the district since 2000, the authorities are unable to put in place proper measures to contain the disease.On Tuesday, seven cases of malaria were  reported from various parts of the district. Malaria, which had been eradicated in the state, staged a comeback in the first leg of the decade.“The malaria found in the district is imported  malaria. Migrant labourers working in the district are mainly afflicted with the disease. Those coming to the district after working in other states for a long time also import the disease,” said Dr Sudhakaran, Ernakulam DMO.Awareness programmes and activities for source  reduction to check the vector-borne diseases are being introduced.“Our officials hold field activities among the migrant workers and give them awareness classes. In case, the officials find out any fever cases, they will take the smear samples and send it for investigation,” Dr Sudhakaran said.As diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya are spread by mosquito, source reduction is all the more important so far as fighting the disease is concerned.In association with various local bodies, the Health Department officials have started adopting measures for source reduction. Since January this year, 44 cases of malaria  have been reported from various parts of the district so far. It is mainly from the eastern parts of the district like Vengola, Perumbavoor, Vazhakkulam and Rayamangalam, where the migrant labourers are residing on a large scale, that the disease is being reported. Shivering, fever and head ache are the symptoms of the disease.In all the districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod, it is the ‘imported strains’ of the disease are found. Indigenous strains are found in these two districts only.On Tuesday, 1,548 cases of fever has been reported from various parts of the district. One case of leptospirosis was reported from Puthenvelikkara on the day. Diarrhoea cases are also on the rise with 118 cases reported on the day.