Odisha moves back into malaria territory again

Stinging Concern

- HEMANT KUMAR ROUT @ Bhubaneswar

A shining example of malaria reduction just a few years back, Odisha seems to have turned the clock backwards, topping the case tally in the country for the third consecutive year with detection of over 36,000 infections in last six months.

According to the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC), the state has recorded 36,388 malaria cases by the end of June this year leaving high-burden states like Jharkhand (14,781), Chhattisgarh (14,713), Maharashtra (6,817), West Bengal (3,722), Uttar Pradesh (2,851), Mizoram (4,999) and Tripura (3,452) far behind.

Six districts accounted for 86 per cent of the caseload with Kalahandi reporting the maximum 8,029 cases, followed by 7,081 in Rayagada, 4,581 in Kandhamal, 4,243 in Malkangiri, 3,996 in Koraput and 3,421 in Mayurbhanj.