According to an official report, there are 14,113 cases of malaria and 557 cases of dengue were recorded across Tripura.
Officials agreed that the surge of Dengue cases was a matter of serious concern while malaria seemed to have not been that much a matter of worry this year.
“So far a total of 557 confirmed cases documented. Among the districts, Sepahijala district accounted for the highest number of cases with 362, followed by 163 in West Tripura district, one each in Gomati, Dhalai, and North Tripura districts, and 29 in Unakoti district. In the last 24 hours alone, 29 suspected cases and 1 confirmed case were reported in the state”, officials said pointing out that there appeared to be no respite as yet.
Tripura, which was once plagued by malaria, has , however, made good strides in its fight against the disease over the past few years. In the past, superstitions and traditional beliefs compelled some residents to seek treatment from local practitioners rather than healthcare facilities, posing challenges for healthcare staff. However, the state has made remarkable progress in dispelling these misconceptions, largely due to extensive awareness campaigns spearheaded by the National Health Mission.
As per the report, there has been a remarkable reduction in malaria-related deaths. In 2014, the state reported a total of 96 malaria-related deaths, while in the current year, the number has plummeted to just 1 confirmed death. Out of a total of 6,10,370 samples tested this year, 14,113 malaria-positive cases were detected, with one fatality reported from Gomati district.
The positive trends in both malaria and dengue cases are attributed to the concerted efforts of health authorities and the success of mass awareness campaigns. Tripura’s healthcare system has managed to effectively tackle these diseases, making the state a promising example of how proactive measures and public awareness initiatives can lead to substantial improvements in public health.
As the situation stood the state’s battle against these vector-borne diseases seemed to have been poised to continue for some more months , till the winter set in.
