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.