119 people died of malaria in Mizoram in 2009

A breathtaking view of Aizawl city at night. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar.

Some 119 people including 40 women died of malaria in Mizoram during 2009, state Health department sources revealed here on Tuesday.

In the year 2008, 91 people had died of malaria in Mizoram, the sources said.

Health department officials said that 1,71,793 people had their blood samples tested during last year out of which 9,399 were found to be positive.

Doctors attributed high malaria deaths to delayed treatment saying that when malaria patients went to doctors for treatment, it was usually too late.

The State received Rs 210.68 lakh and Rs 282.35 lakh in 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively from the centre for malaria control under the National Vector Borne Disease Control programme.