HARIPUR, Nov 8: The outbreak of malaria in different parts of the district has left scores of people shivering even in normal temperature, official sources told Dawn here on Thursday

A survey of the public as well as private sector health facilities of the district revealed that malaria cases had registered a rise of late.

Sera-i-Saleh, Shah Muhammad, Pandak, Mohalla Railway Station, Raja Abad, Asif Abad were among the areas where the cases of this malady were reported.

People of every age and sex could be seen visiting government hospitals and private clinics with high body temperature and shivering.

Children are the worst hit, who fall ill after being bitten by mosquito, the malarial insect.

The out-patient department of the district headquarter hospital, Haripur, has for the last 15 days been handling an increased number of malaria patients, an official source at the hospital said.

“These mosquito-bitten patients constitute 80 per cent of the total OPD visitors, who come with complaints of temperatures ranging from 100 to 104F, coupled with cold,” said a medical officer.

When contacted, Dr Manzoor, a local physician, attributed the incidence of malaria to the lack of sanitation and sewerage system in the city.

He was of the view that due to non-existence of proper cleanliness in the city, the mosquito breeding had caused spread of the disease.

He said that cleanliness around the residential areas, regular fumigation were the best repelling measures against the invasion of mosquitoes.

As it rained more than last year, it also contributed to the breeding of mosquitoes.

It merits a mention here that as the provincial govt had reportedly abolished malaria department, the task of fumigation in the city was assigned to TMAs, which failed to do their duty, and must share the blame for the spread of the malady.