Malaria cases on the rise in Mumbai

From The Times of India:

Mumbai: Malaria-related cases in the metropolis have shot up by as much as 47 per cent this year due to increased construction activities and high humidity levels.
"Since January this year 6,300 malaria cases have been reported, an increase of nearly 47 per cent from 2,300 cases in the corresponding period last year," Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Assistant Health Officer (Malaria), K M Hargoli said on Tuesday.

The rise in malaria cases is mainly due to large number of infrastructure and construction projects undertaken this time. Also, the high humidity levels and soaring temperatures have contributed to the trend, he said.

This month (May) there were nearly 1,194 cases of malaria, an increase of 20-25 per cent as compared to the same period last year, he said.

According to the civic body, 1,351 cases of malaria were reported last month as compared to 790 in April 2008.

"We started anti-malaria drive, including fogging and other preventive measures, but despite all that there is a rise in malaria cases," Hargoli said.

Byculla, Elphistone, Parel, Marol and Chandivali have been identified as the most risk prone areas for the disease caused by a parasite transmitted by mosquitoes.

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