Times of India
03 August 2010
By Ravikiran.Deshmukh

With 17,136 cases reported till July 31 and the numbers going up daily the killer disease continues to ravage the city
The surge in malaria this season is perhaps the worst the city has ever seen, with the number of cases going up every day. According to data available till July 31, as many as 17,136 cases have been reported as positive. (See box)

The report, submitted to the state government by BMC, also says that there were 3949 malaria–affected patients admitted in various hospitals across the city. According to Public Health Minister Suresh Shetty, an advisory has been issued for the private practitioners with instructions to offer immediate treatment to patients diagnosed as malaria positive.They are then expected to refer the patient to the nearest government or the BMC hospital.

Said Shetty, "We have made at least 250 extra beds available with ESIS hospitals so that no patient is turned away for want of space. Some of the private hospitals too have started OPDs specially for suspected malaria cases."

The minister also added, "Over the next week we hope to be able to control malaria as teams from the Centre, State and BMC have been specially deputed to deal with it."

A three–member team from the National Institute of Malaria Research, Delhi, wanted the BMC to instruct builders to appoint a doctor at the construction site if over 500 labourers are at work there. They also emphasized on conducting weekly anti–larvae treatment at mosquito–breeding grounds.