Agartala, July 20 (TIWN): The state government on Sunday claimed that fresh malaria cases are now on the ebb and said that the malaria outbreak was now ‘under control’. We are getting lesser fresh malaria cases now and the patients who are already under treatment are being administered proper dosages of anti malaria drugs and special diet to battle against the disease, a source in the Department of Health and Family Welfare said.

Asked about new malaria cases identified today, the source said that out of 1,766 fresh fever patients, who underwent blood tests across the state today, 600 were found to have contacted malaria parasite. A total of 690 patients were admitted in different hospitals and healthcare institutions across the state today; 290 among them were found to have been infected with malaria. Medical officers on duty were asked to ensure proper medication and special diet to all of them after figuring out their digestive status, the source said.

The total figure of malaria infected people, who received institutional diagnosis, today rose to 36 thousand 416. A total of 20 lakh 53 thousand 86 patients were diagnosed with fever since the beginning of largescale institutional diagnosis on June 13.

Asked about the other fever patients who didn’t contact malaria, the source informed that the Department didn’t have any specific information about the rest of patients. Few cases of diarrhea and typhoid were identified in the process, he added.

A separate source today said that while newly malaria infected patients are now on the wane, other seasonal diseases, mostly gastroenteritis is on the rise with the onset of full monsoon. The hilly terrains are suffering from these diseases due to unscientific lifestyles, especially with drinking water collection practices.