The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of Nepal has started spraying against Malaria and Kala-azar in the high-risk Terai districts in southern part of the countries this year to check the mortality rate due to the disease.

"Even though the number of cases of both the diseases have reduced drastically, the EDCD is conducting a house to house spraying campaign against Malaria and Kala-azar in the areas of high risk," Director of the EDCD Mahendra Bahadur Bista told reporters here on Saturday.

According to the EDCD, spraying against Malaria will be done in the selected areas of Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sinduli, Chitwan, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindupalchowk, Nawalparasi, Bardia, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dadheldhura districts. Most of them are urban areas.

The spraying drive for Malaria is expected to cover over 250, 000 people, the EDCD said.

As many as 32 deaths were reported out of 2,229 kala-azar patients in 2003 and 15 deaths were reported among 1,526 kala-azar cases reported in 2004.

The National Malaria Eradication Program was launched in 1958 with the objective of eradicating the disease in a limited period.

The EDCD conducts spraying for Malaria and Kala-azar twice a year. The first phase is held in March/ April and another in September/October.

Source: Xinhua