KHUJAND, July 30, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Border areas of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will launch joint measures to combat malaria mosquitoes in early August, Mumin Qurbonov, the director of the Sughd center for combating tropical diseases, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, Kulkent and Lakkon jamaots in the Isfara district, the settlement of Mehnatobod in the Zafarobod district and the village of Taghoyak in the Spitamen district, where the Anopheles vector exists and outbreak of malaria has been reported over the past three years, will take measures to tackle the malaria situation.

“The measures involve 50 people, including medical workers and representatives from local authorities,” said Qurbonov, “800 kilograms of insecticides and other chemical compounds as well special protective clothing have been provided for this purpose.”  They will treat residential houses, public catering facilities, kindergartens and schools.  Besides, with support of local population they will destroy breeding places for mosquitoes.

Qurbonov noted that the measures would be taken with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Global Fund.

In 2007, 10 cases of malaria were registered in the province and two cases were reported in 2008,” said Qurbonov, “Over the first six months of this year, only one case of malaria has been registered in Sughd.