Mangalore tops in urban malaria cases

Monday, 08 June 2009 13:19 administrator
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Source : The Business Line Date : 05.03.2009

Mangalore tops in urban malaria cases

Our Bureau

Mangalore, March 4

The share of Mangalore in the reported cases of urban malaria in Karnataka stood at 64 per cent in 2008, according to Mr M. Madan Gopal, Secretary of Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said that this was followed by Gulbarga at 25 per cent, Bellary at 4 per cent, Udupi and Hubli-Dharwad at 3 per cent each, and Hospet at 1 per cent.

He said that 94 per cent of cases of malaria in Mangalore were reported from the core Mangalore town itself. As many as 11 areas in the town have been classified as high-risk areas.

Last year, nearly 50 per cent of the budget allocated to control urban malaria was spent on Mangalore itself.

Construction sites, abandoned open wells and overhead tanks in buildings are some of the breeding grounds for mosquitoes leading to the spread of malaria in the region.

Construction activities in the town have led to the increase in the number of migrant workers coming to the city.

In some of the cases, these workers reside at the construction sites. Some of these sites lack basic facilities leading to the increase in the cases of malaria.

Last year, 50 building contractors were penalised for not taking steps to control the breeding of mosquitoes.

Last Updated on Monday, 08 June 2009 13:24