Malaria Spike in Mangaluru: Migrant Workers at High Risk, Health Dept Ramps Up Surveillance

Mangaluru: Alongside the ongoing dengue concerns, Dakshina Kannada is witnessing a troubling rise in malaria cases, with 75 cases reported in the last six months. Out of these, 46 are migrant workers from states like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal, while the remaining 29 are local residents. Most migrant labourers arriving in coastal Karnataka for construction work are being diagnosed during routine health screenings, prompting urgent action by the health department. Fever symptoms commonly seen in train arrivals have raised alarms about mosquito-driven transmission, leading authorities to mandate malaria testing for all incoming workers before employment.

To combat the spread, the health department has formed three dedicated teams comprising 18 volunteers who are actively surveying labour sites within Mangaluru City Corporation limits. These teams are conducting blood smear tests and offering immediate treatment for confirmed malaria cases. In collaboration with the labour department, awareness drives have also been launched to educate workers about symptoms like high fever, chills, nausea, cramps, and anaemia. The intensified monitoring aims to curb the spread of the disease and safeguard both the local population and the migrant workforce.