Kanpur: At least 12 people have lost their lives in past one-week following an out-break of malaria, prompted by heavy rains, in the rural areas of the Kanpur district, state Health Department said.

"Twelve people have died of malaria over last seven days and hundreds are reported sick of the disease, from the nearby villages," an authority said.

"1800 people from 131 villages of the district have been affected by malaria and the disease is spreading to the neighbouring areas also," Kanpur ADM A N Upadhaya said.

"The main reason for spreading of malaria is water-logging after heavy rains due to which mosquitoes are breeding in abundance," he added.

He said out of total 28 deaths reported from the malaria-affected villages, 12 have been confirmed of malaria, Upadhaya said adding he feared an epidemic if the situation was not brought under control immediately.

"Health department has taken blood samples of around 4500 people to examine it," Uphadhaya said terming the move as a precautionary measure to avoid the possibility of an epidemic.

However, the Health department has formed 10 teams of medical staffs to distribute Chlorine and Chloro-quinone as a preventive measure in all the affected villages, he said.
Source : PTI