Savitha Suresh Babu/The Hindu

• Nearly 12,000 malaria cases reported in Dakshina Kannada
• Medicated nets said to be safer than coils and liquidators
• Chemical residue remains on the net and it is not inhaled
• Medication might cause skin irritation in some people

Mangalore, Aug 11: With nearly 12,000 malaria cases reported in Dakshina Kannada district since the beginning of this year, the region continues to have the highest number of malaria cases in the country.

Prevention

The only way to completely prevent malaria is to prevent mosquito bites. In this malaria-prone region, it is essential to protect oneself from mosquito bites between 12 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The female anopheles mosquito that spreads malaria bites at this time, said Gopal Krishna Delampady, senior health inspector, Malaria Control Action Cell, Mangalore City Corporation.

Mosquito nets are considered better protection from mosquitoes than coils and other repellents that cause health hazards. Medicated mosquito nets are now considered the best solution.

Medication

Existing mosquito nets could be medicated by using K-O tablets. Vasanth of Sumangala Agro Supplies said one tablet should be mixed in one litre of water. The net should be soaked in this solution for 10 minutes, and dried on the ground in a cool area. The effect of the medicine lasts for about six months. The tablet contains 25 per cent deltamethrin and keeps mosquitoes away. Window meshes could also be medicated in a similar fashion.

Safer

S.S. Baliga, president, Malaria Control Action Cell, said that the medicated nets were safer than coils and liquidators, and had been approved by the World Health Organisation. "K-O tablets are not harmful as the residue of chemicals remains only on the net and the user does not inhale it.

It is the inhalation of chemicals from coils and liquidators that causes respiratory tract infections, headaches and aggravates asthma," he said. K-O tablets might cause skin irritation in some people.