Guwahati: Medical experts from Delhi and Kolkata rushed to Assam's malaria-hit Lakhimpur and Golaghat districts on Tuesday even as the State Government moved the Election Commission to relax a poll-related ban so that it could distribute mosquito nets among the affected people.

The official death toll has been put at 43. Of this, Lakhimpur district accounted for 25 deaths since February, followed by Golaghat district with 13. So far 4,087 persons have tested positive for malaria. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi pointed out to the Commission that medicated mosquito nets, provided during the previous government's tenure at the Centre, could not be distributed as a CBI investigation into the procurement was under way. The nets were lying idle in godowns.

Also the State Government could not appoint 600 malaria surveillance workers in view on the ban on appointments under the model code of conduct. Consequently, preventive measures such as spraying of DDT and other disinfectants suffered.

Shortage of test kits

There was a shortage of rapid diagnostics test kits. He requisitioned 20,000 kits from Meghalaya and requested the Centre to provide more test kits.

Apart from the worst hit Lakhimpur and Goalghat district, malaria has broken out in Morigaon, Nagaon, Baksa, Sonitpur. Mr. Gogoi claimed that the situation was brought under control

n Monday C.K. Das, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, rushed to the worst-hit Lakhimpur district.

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