Mangalore: The expert committee on National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) has identified seven wards of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), to be highly prone to malaria.

The areas are categorised based on annual parasite index (API) per 1,000 persons. If the API is above five, then it is classified as very high risk area.

The wards are Derebail West, Derebail South-West, Kadri North, Central Market, Kankanady, Attavara and Jeppu. The committee has declared six wards as high risk areas. They are Derebail North, Court, Kadri Padavu, Bendoor, Kankanady Valencia and Bolara.

The NVBDCP in-charge Additional Director Dr Prakash said that there is a need for fortnightly surveillance of malaria in very high risk and high risk areas. Specific action plan is needed for each ward to check sources of vector-borne diseases.

As on July, 2014, a total of 4,271 malaria and 95 dengue cases have been reported in Dakshina Kannada district, while in Udupi district, 947 malaria and 36 dengue cases have been reported.

He also stressed that, firstly, hospitals, clinics and hostels must maintain hygiene. They must use window mesh and mosquito nets compulsorily. The Wenlock Hospital can send a proposal for window mesh, he added.

Scientist and Officer in charge of ICMR in Karnataka Dr S K Ghosh said the health department is gearing up to train lab technicians in DK district to bring down the number of vector-borne diseases.

The district contributes about 70 percent of malaria cases reported in the state, he informed.