598 Malaria Cases Reported In MP In Seven Months; Balaghat Accounts For 174

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Despite tall claims of the health department in malaria control, a total of 598 malaria cases have been reported in the state over the past seven months till July this year, with the highest number originating from Balaghat. Balaghat alone accounts for 174 of these cases.

This is followed by Chhindwara (67 cases), Sheopur and Dindori (38 cases each), Jhabua (31), Satna (27), and Neemuch (20), according to health department.

Balaghat accounts for approximately 30% of the total cases reported during these seven months. This clearly demonstrates that the threat of malaria is not uniform across the state but is concentrated in specific districts and regions.

In the month of July alone, 248 malaria-positive cases were reported in the state. These include 102 cases in Balaghat, 24 in Chhindwara, and 19 in Sheopur. Balaghat accounted for approximately 41% of the cases reported in July.

This indicates that the risk of malaria is rising rapidly in certain districts during the monsoon season. Consequently, there is a need to further intensify surveillance in these hotspot districts in the coming months.

Himanshu Jaswar, deputy director of the health department, said, Efforts are also underway to contain outbreaks in areas where cases are being reported.

However, malaria was under control over the past few years due to surveillance, timely testing and treatment, and mosquito control measures, which are yielding tangible results on the ground.