Malaria deaths have dropped by 20% this year: Doctors

Proper fumigation, greater awareness of the disease and timely medical attention has helped reduce cases of malaria, including Navi Mumbai, said doctors.

“Across the world, malaria is responsible for 35,000 deaths every year. But locally the number of casualties have reduced by 20%,” said Dr Akshay Challani, general physician, Sterling Wockhardt Hospital.

He added that the country has made significant progress in recent years. “The new anti-malarial drug, which is being used in Myanmar, will be made available soon. Expect cases to reduce even further,” he added.

An anti-malaria campaign, which started in 2013, called Invest in the future: Defeat malaria, has been gathering speed, doctors said.

“The three-year campaign will end next year and may even lead to malaria’s eradication,” Challani said.

Dr Sandeep Sonawane, internal medicine specialist, Sai Snehdeep Hospital said that even though there is a surge of malaria during the monsoon, the numbers have still reduced. “Of every 100 detected cases every year, just two or three were fatal. People have become more careful now,” he said.

Alertness means patients don’t ignore symptoms and approach doctors early.

“There is drop in mortality rate is primarily due to early detection,” Challani said.

“Malaria has been an epidemic and has been scaring people for a long time. Preventing ourselves from these malarial parasites is of utmost importance. People suffer more due to late detection or self-medication. Now, a new fear of drug-resistant malaria is on its way to enter India so a need of awareness is necessary.”

There are five types of parasites, which cause malaria in humans, of which Plasmodium Flaciparum is the most common and responsible for most deaths worldwide. Three species of human malaria parasites are found in India of which Vivax is the predominant one, said doctors.