Malaria toll in Capital rises to 6

After dengue and chikungunya outbreak, malaria is now emerging as a major health threat in the national Capital, as the death toll from this vector-borne disease has risen to six.

According to a senior municipal health official the malaria deaths were reported at various hospitals in from July to September.

“Out of the six cases, two of the victims were from Delhi, three hailed from Uttar Pradesh and one from Haryana,” the official said on Tuesday.

Incidentally, the deaths come at a time when the neighbouring country Sri Lanka has been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organisation.

The national Capital is thus under threat now from all three vector-borne diseases.

Two deaths due to malaria had been earlier reported in Delhi this season while the number of cases of this vector-borne disease in the national Capital has risen to 22 till September 17.

Praveen Sharma, 30, a resident of Mandawali, died at Safdarjung Hospital after suffering multi-organ failure triggered by malarial complications earlier this month.

A 62-year-old man from Jyoti Nagar had also died of malarial complications at AIIMS in July.

Municipal Health Officer of South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Dr B K Hazarika said: “Four of the six deaths took places at AIIMS, one at Safdrajung Hospital and one at DDU Hospital.” 

The civic bodies have, however, claimed that “these deaths were suspected malaria deaths and confirmation is yet awaited.”