First Malaria Death in Delhi After Five Years

Praveen Sharma, a resident of east Delhi, was admitted to the Max super specialty hospital on August 28 following high fever and weakness.

A 30-year-old man became first victim of malaria at the national capital in the last five years, authorities said.

Praveen Sharma, a resident of east Delhi, was admitted to the Max super specialty hospital in east Delhi on August 28 following high fever and weakness. Tests conducted at the hospital confirmed malaria.

Malaria - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment
Malaria is caused by a parasite that enters blood through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is characterized by fever, vomiting, shivering, sweating and other symptoms.

‘No death has occurred due to malaria in Delhi in five years from 2012 till July but there has been 19 cases of malaria as of September 3.’

Sharma, who initially underwent treatment at the Max hospital, was referred to the Safdarjung Hospital after his condition deteriorated on September 2.

The patient was kept in the Intensive Care Unit after being shifted to the Safdarjung Hospital.

According to the doctors, Sharma succumbed to the disease on September 4 even after undergoing proper medication.

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"On the very first day itself, the hospital confirmed that my son was suffering from malaria. Doctors tried but could not save him," Praveen's father Rewati Prasad Sharma told IANS.

According to website of National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), no death has occurred due to malaria in Delhi in five years from 2012 till July.

About Mosquito Diseases
Mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria, filaria, dengue, etc are common in places conducive of mosquito breeding. Swamps, ponds and stagnated drainage provide optimal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said the number of malaria cases was constantly rising here. At least 19 malaria cases have been reported in Delhi this season till September 3.

Delhi has so far witnessed 711 dengue cases this year while the number of chikungunya cases was 560. Four deaths have been recorded due to dengue this year.

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Delhi had last year recorded 60 dengue deaths with the total number of cases recorded at 15,896.

Source-IANS