Sindh’s Malaria Control Program recorded 108,286 positive cases in 2018

KARACHI-  As many as 108,262 malaria positive cases have been recorded by Malaria Control Program Sindh throughout the province of Sindh in 2018, however no death was reported due to malaria last year.

According to the yearly data released by Malaria Control Program Sindh, majority of cases were reported from Thatta, Sujawal, Tando Muhammad Khan, Mirpurkhas and Badin districts.

Director, Malaria Control Program Sindh, Dr Abbas Gopang, stated that, more than 1,484,821 malaria-suspected cases were detected throughout Sindh, out of which only 108,262 cases were tested as positive.

He further informed that, malaria is a mosquito-borne disease and its outbreak usually takes place after monsoon rains, making numerous citizens sick every year. He added that malaria cases were commonly seen in rural areas of Sindh, while dengue cases were generally reported from within urban areas of Sindh.

Dr Abbas added that, in year 2018, over 2,400 malaria cases were detected in Karachi at the Microscopic Centers working in the city for treatment of malaria patients. He mentioned that the number of malaria cases were low in Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban areas, as compared to rural localities of Sindh province but, it was also revealed that, under reporting was observed in coastal areas of Karachi and associated slums.

Moreover, it was confirmed by him that, no deaths occurred due to the spread of this mosquito borne condition, in 2018. Dr Abbas also claimed that reporting of malaria cases has increased in last couple of years throughout the province, with capacity building and training of general doctors.

In 2017, a total number of 67,695 malaria positive cases were recorded by Malaria Control Program Sindh, while 04 deaths were also reported due to malaria and its complications.