Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Hospitals in Rajasthan and other parts of India are tackling a serious outbreak of malaria and dengue.
So far 200 cases have been reported by the SMS government hospital and 190 people have been infected by dengue. In one day the hospital admitted 11 patients with malaria and 9 with dengue. The situation was not better at J.K. Lone Hospital which admitted 41 cases of malaria and 61 of dengue. Unofficial sources not confirmed by the government say 12 of the cases reported in a Rajasthan were lethal.
One third of the people who went to hospital for testing for malaria or dengue were found to be positive. Karauli, Bharatpur, Alwar, Sikar, Jodhpur and Barmer are the localities with the highest numbers of registered cases.
As security measure to monitor the epidemic, the government has sent 360 mobile teams to follow the affected areas in an operation of door to door control offering immediate assistance if necessary. These mobile units also treat patients in the 2,469 villages of 12 districts affected by recent floods. (AP) (27/9/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe: 21; Parole:232)
