KHUJAND, October 18, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Local authorities of the northern Sughd province are taking measures to prevent spread of malaria in the province. 

A campaign to destroy possible breeding places for mosquitoes has been carried out in a number of districts in the region that have been affected by malaria over the past several years. 

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the head of the Sughd Regional Center to Fight Tropical Diseases Mumin Qurbonov said that they had treated possible breeding places for mosquitoes in Asht, Spitamen, Zafaraobod, Ghonchi and Isfara districts, where cases of malaria outbreaks had been registered over the past several years.

“Since four of these districts border on Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, we have reached an agreement with colleagues from these countries to treat possible breeding places for mosquitoes in their territories as well,” Qurbonov said, noting that they had treated utility premises and basements both in residential sector and public places in apartment buildings and utility in the mentioned districts.

According to him, 54 persons involved in the campaign have treated 2,500 households.  “This year, only two cases of malaria have been reported in the province,” said Qurbonov, “The largest number of the malaria cases was registered in northern Tajikistan in 1997 – 300 cases.” 

            Qurbonov noted that local authorities had provided them with transport and the UN Global Fund provided them with insecticides and other chemical compounds to kill mosquitoes.