Jharkhand has recorded a sudden increase in malaria cases with the onset of the monsoons, with a survey detecting 13,000 people affected by the disease.
A drive launched by the state health department to ascertain the number of malaria cases detected 13,000 people suffering from the disease after testing 100,000 blood samples.According to a health department official, the blood samples were collected between June 30 and July 7.
"The drive to test the blood samples was part of our operation to stop the spread of malaria," said the official.
The highest number of cases was detected in West Singhbhum district (7,500 cases).
Last year, Malaria caused 48 deaths in the state.
The health department has launched a drive to protect people from malaria in the 13 most affected districts. Some 120,000 fish have been introduced in ponds and other water bodies to prevent the spread of mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite.
