Mass screening done at Kanha National Park (Tiger Reserve)
As mentioned in the last report, we have been noticing malaria cases with significant migration history to Kanha National Park. Since the tiger reserve is out-of-bounds for the regular surveillance done as part of MEDP, a decision was taken to perform mass screening of the entire Kanha National Park field staff and residents. Special permission was sought from the Field Director of Kanha National Park and intensified mass screening was done by the Malaria Field Coordinators under direct supervision of District HQs. The exercise started on October 31 and was completed by November 10, 2018 covering all seven ranges of the tiger reserve including those in the adjoining district of Balaghat. Total 8 malaria cases were diagnosed during this exercise inside the national park. All of these cases were provided prompt radical treatment and were followed up till completion of the same. We are still diagnosing cases in the buffer zones of the park and surveillance has been strengthened in these areas.