The National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare has issued awareness on malaria

WHAT IS MALARIA?

– Malaria is a disease characterized by fever which is caused by the bite of female anopheles mosquito.

In Nagaland, two types of malaria are found: malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax and malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Falciparum malaria is the more severe of the two.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA?

– Fever with chills and rigor

– Headache and vomiting

– Sweating after each episode of fever

– Feeling of weakness and tiredness

DANGER SIGNS OF SEVERE MALARIA

– High fever with change in behavior, consciousness, drowsiness, inability to sit or walk

– repeated vomiting

– passage of small quantity urine/ no urine/black urine

– severe diarrhoea and dehydration

– unexplained heavy bleeding from nose, gums, or other sites.

HOW IS MALARIA SPREAD

– When an infected female anopheles mosquito bites a healthy human being, the parasite spreads in the body of the individual and the person gets sick after a few days.

– When a mosquito bites such a malaria patient, the parasite enters the mosquito with the blood meal and multiplies there.

WHERE DOES THE MALARIA TRANSMITTING MOSQUITO BREED?

– Mosquito breeds in stagnant water. The female mosquito lays eggs on the surface of water. After a few days, larva emerges from the eggs which grow into adult mosquitoes. Mosquito breeding place in the cities are: overhead open water tanks, broken utensils, discarded tyres, utensils without cover, construction sites, clogged drains, potholes, etc. Mosquito breeding sites in the villages are: Paddy fields, ponds covered with grass/swamp, unused wells, wheel tracks, animal hoof marks, peri-domestic water collections.

HOW DO WE CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE SUSPECTED TO BE SUFFERING FROM MALARIA?

– First and most important is to do a blood test to diagnose malaria. Testing facilities are available in all health center and Government Hospitals all over Nagaland free of cost.

– If malaria is confirmed, early and complete treatment is essential. Medicines for both types of malaria are made available for free in all Govt. Health Centers & Government Hospitals

HOW CAN WE CONTROL MALARIA?

– Remove breeding site (stagnant water bodies) of mosquitoes as stated above

– Fit wire-netting (screening) of doors and windows of houses, Use mosquito nets

– Insecticide treated bed nets are available which not only act as physical barriers, but also reduce mosquito population

– Use mosquito repellent cream or coil/liquidator

– Wear clothes that covers the body while going outdoors in mosquito infested areas

– Rear larvivorous fishes (which eats up mosquito larva) in stagnant water bodies

– Spread awareness on control of vector and to seek early medical care.