Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

INCREASING RISK OF MALARIAL INCIDENCE IN STONE QUARRY WORKERS—A CASE STUDY IN BANGALORE DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA

Paramesha Naik, D. Ushamalini and R.K. Somashekar

Abstract

Malaria is the single most prevalent disease observed in a few quarry locations of Bangalore district. Innumerable breeding sites coupled with large scale labour- movement. asymptomatic carriers and drug resistant malaria have contributed to deteriorating and persistent malaria situation in the area. Illegal, unsystematic and unscientific mining of quarries has led to the increasing risk of malarial incidences.The data from primary health centers and health survey carried out in the concerned villages revealed that the total number of malarial incidences reported are 209 in the year 1999, 256 in the year 2000, 345 in the year 2001, 395 in the year 2002 of which 80% of the incidences were reported among stone quarry workers, resident in quarry neighbourhood.