11 migrant workers at construction site in
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation test positive for malaria

PUNE: Eleven migrant workers at a construction site in Pimple Saudagar recently tested positive for malaria bringing to fore the need for conducting intensive screening of workers and initiating measures to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne infection at such sites.The spate of incidents came to light when the 11 workers complained of
fever with chills and were admitted to a civic hospital a week ago. On
August 13, their blood tests revealed that they were all suffering from
malaria.

The civic health officials initiated intense surveillance
activities in the surrounding area soon after.”This is the
first such outbreak in Pimpri-Chinchwad where a large number of people
living in a cluster have contracted the infection and tested positive
for malaria,” said Milind Jawale, medical officer of the
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).”Between August
13 and 21, we tested 92 blood samples of people living nearby to rule
out the presence of malarial parasites among them.

Barring the 11
people, no one tested positive for malaria there,” Jawale said.The malaria menace could be checked if the authorities focus on
controlling the outbreak of the disease at construction sites, rather
than just its treatment, say experts.”We do screen workers at
construction sites on a regular basis. Besides, we have given directives
to builders on how they should ward off malarial infection by
initiating certain precautionary measures. They have been asked to spray
anti-malaria powder at sites with stagnant water, close the lids on
water containers and use anti-malarial oil in waste water to prevent
mosquito breeding,” Jawale said.Asked whether builders follow
the precautionary measures, he said, “They do follow the precautionary
measures. Also, our field workers who visit construction sites keep
taking stock of the situation
and suggest measures, wherever needed.

Most builders initiate pest
control measures and even hire private doctors’ services to periodically
examine the workers and their families.””In the case of this
outbreak, one of the migrant workers had gone to his native place in
Chhattisgarh. He returned with fever and chills on August 12. Soon
after, the others living at the construction site also started
complaining of fever with chills. The builder himself took all the 13
people who had taken ill to a civic hospital for treatment. Eleven
tested positive for malaria from among them,” Jawale addedUnclean conditions at construction sites can cause outbreak of malaria.
With the weather being conducive to mosquito breeding, the civic health
officials have intensified their surveillance activities to check
transmission of the malarial parasite. Between June and August (till
date), the PCMC has reported 76 cases of malaria.