AGARTALA, July 3 (TWIN): One more child was reported dead from malaria on Thursday raising the cumulative death toll to 60. Over 1,400 patients were freshly diagnosed with malaria parasite across the state today. The final figures of malaria infected population crossed 20 thousand today, an official communiqué from the Health Department said.

The communiqué said that Jenisi Reang (2), daughter of Nagendra Reang from Lungtherik of Kanchanpur sub-division died at the sub-divisional hospital on Wednesday. No further death from malaria was reported across the state today, the communiqué added. Health Minister Badal Choudhury today visited a number of hospitals and primary health centers in Hrishyamukh, Matai and Nalua in South Tripura district. He issued instruction for strict maintenance of treatment procedures and healthy diet for malaria afflicted patients. He asked the authorities to ensure proper stock of anti-malaria drugs.

A total of 9,434 fever patients underwent blood tests today across the state out of which 1,474 were found to have contacted malaria. A total of 191 health camps were organized across the state. Over 2,290 health camps were prganized in the state since June 13. On a different context, a source in the Health Department today said that most of 18 thousand 595 patients afflicted with malaria were cured and sent back home till date. With the deadly disease- malaria spreading in newer areas, the North and Dhalai district administrations have decided to press chopper into service to tackle the situation in far-flung areas, official sources confirmed today.

Keeping in mind of prevailing situation in some tribal hamlets, the district administration has decided to send special medical team to some 'vulnerable' hamlets, said DM, North Sanjiv K Rathod over telephone from Dharmanagar today. He said CMO, Dhalai Dr. Sanjoy Biswas has been asked to coordinate the entire plan of organizing medical camp in the malaria ravaged areas including Sakhan Shermoon area in Kanchanpur subdivision. The DM said, "The situation is under control with doctors and health workers organizing health camps in the malaria affected areas".

The special medical team who will come from Agartala, is supposed to conduct special medical camps for four consecutive days startingtomorrow. Besides North district, the special medical team would conduct medical camp in some remote pockets of Dhalai district to contain the malaria. And they would be sent to there by helicopter. Among eight districts Dhalai is the worst malaria affected district so far. Blood samples of 9136 patients were examined yesterday out of which 1435 patients tested positive cases. Today, a total of 672 malaria patients have got admitted in government hospitals, according to official figure.

Medecins Sans Frontières, an internal NGO has extended help to contain malaria which has already claimed 60 precious lives. As part of precautionary measures, the government has asked all the doctors and medical staff to strictly follow treatment protocol while treating malaria patients.