City witnessed more malaria deaths in 2009Mumbai: The highest number of malaria deaths, 198, was recorded in the city last year. According to data collected by the BMC, a total of 34,878 cases of vivax and 8,275 cases of falciparum malaria were recorded in 2009. This is the highest number of cases ever recorded in a year. While 75 deaths were recorded due to malaria in 2005, 109 in 2006, 122 in 2007 and 98 in 2008, the deaths shot up in 2009. The BMC claims to have curbed malaria to a great extent by not only doing a door-to-door surveillance, but also keeping a tab on the building construction sites. “In the last few years due to shortage of staff and increase in the number of construction sites, it was difficult to render antilarval treatment. However, starting from April 1, it is the builder/developer’s responsibility to give antilarval treatment in the construction sites,’’ said an officer from the pesticides department of BMC. TNN 
|