Malaria alert in Kozhikode beach

KOZHIKODE: As the number of Malaria cases had soared to seven, health authorities have started conducting more field visits on beachsides to avert a possible outbreak.

Of the seven cases, three are the deadly falciparum and all are reported from Vellayil beach. Four of the total cases are indigenous, which worries the health department.

“Three of the afflicted persons are friends. They use to sleep on the open beach in spite of the repeated warnings of malaria spread,” a top health official said.
On Monday, a medical team visited the area and found that Vellayil harbour was a breeding ground of aedes aegypti mosquitos.

“There are three wells inside the harbour which are safe for mosquitos to breed. All wells are of small depth,” senior biologist S. Vinod of district vector control unit (DVC) said. Besides, a construction work site in the harbour too was found to be a safe haven for mosquitos.

“We have conducted fogging in the whole area and put guppy fish in all wells,” district medical officer (DMO) Dr R. L. Saritha said.

Kozhikode Corporation, district administration and the health department have joined hands for a mosquito eradication campaign. Resident associations (RA), students, volunteers among others will be given training by the end of March to reach to public for effective implementation of the drive.

After the ‘train the trainers’ programme, the destruction of the breeding sources will be commenced by April.