Bareilly: Cases of deadly plasmodium falciparum (PF) malaria are now being reported from five districts in western UP. Though Bareilly continues to be the worst-hit with 2,756 cases till Tuesday, 634 patients have tested positive in Badaun, 15 in Pilibhit, seven in Shahjahanpur and two in Lakhimpur Kheri.State surveillance officer Dr Vikasendu Agarwal said, “The health department has started conducting rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) in districts neighbouring Bareilly and free medicines are being distributed among patients. Besides, as a preventive measure, the state government has sent teams of health experts to Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Badaun, Bahraich and Hardoi.”Officials said that four blocks of Badaun district — Jagat, Samrer, Binavar and Dataganj — have been severely hit by PF malaria. The district has reported 23 fever deaths so far, while 1,093 positive cases of plasmodium vivax (PV) malaria have come to light. In the neighbouring Pilibhit, 15 patients were tested positive for PF malaria till Tuesday. Of these, nine cases were from Bisalpur sub-division. The adjoining district of Shahjahanpur has reported seven PF cases.Dr Pramila Gaur, additional director, health, Bareilly division, said, “Anopheles mosquitoes transmit PF malaria among humans. The health department has been focusing on detecting these cases early and starting immediate treatment of a patient. The number of PF cases detected is equal to the number of lives saved as delay in treatment often leads to a patient’s death.”Dr RP Rawat, chief medical officer (CMO), Shahjahanpur, said, “We have conducted a meeting with village heads and provided them larvicidal spray, bleaching powder, ORS packets and chlorine tablets. With the help of the civic body, we have been ensuring cleanliness in villages from where fever cases are being reported.”Dr Manoj Agarwal, CMO, Lakhimpur Kheri, said, “Two cases of PF were reported in August in our district and we had provided radical treatment to both patients. Their native villages were sanitised and no fresh case has been reported. There is no outbreak in the district.”

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