Fafen Report: Malaria cases doubled in March

FAFEN reported 1,655 cases in K-P, 289 in Balochistan, 266 in Sindh, 77 in Punjab, 53 in FATA.

ISLAMABAD:

There was an increase in mosquito-borne diseases in the country with the arrival of spring as malaria cases increased from 872 in February to 2,340 in March, reveals a report issued by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Monday.

In 73 health offices monitored by FAFEN across the country, out of 2,340 cases of malaria were reported in 20 districts. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa topped the list with 1,655 cases in six districts, followed by 289 in five Balochistan districts, 266 in two districts of Sindh, 77 in five districts of Punjab and 53 cases from two agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Of the 2,385,845 cases of diseases reported in March, 5% were those of RTI, 16% were gastrointestinal infections and 10% were skin diseases, according to the report. Moreover, cases of animal bites numbered 10,352, viral diseases 2,792, mosquito-borne diseases 2,419, bacterial infections 1,705 and meningitis 40.

All 10 districts that reported the most cases of diseases (other than malaria) were in Punjab, according to the report.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2012.