Scientists have discovered three new drug-resistant strains of the malaria parasite in Cambodia, which they say have spread to other parts of Asia as well.

Sri Lanka will join the rest of the world to mark the World Malaria Day that falls on today, April 25, 2013.

About 1.3 billion people in South-East Asia continue to be at risk of malaria, even though substantial progress has been made in controlling the disease.

Health Department officials have reported 38 confirmed cases of dengue fever in the district.

This World Malaria Day, April 25, the State has a reason to smile, as the number of malaria cases has gone down drastically in the last three years with no deaths being reported since 2011.

Disease spreading to newer areas

Dengue cases have begun to increase in Coimbatore during ‘off-season’ and in newer geographical areas. Usually confined to rainy season between August and November, the number of dengue cases had increased sharply between January and March this year. Deputy Director of Health Services R. Damodharan told reporters here on Monday that the number of dengue cases was rising in rural areas now.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that 55,910 people have been detected with dengue disease, out of which 41 patients died due to the epidemic.

Fiji has recorded 141 cases of dengue fever for the first three months of this year, local media reported Sunday.

Researchers have developed a model that allows malaria epidemics in arid northwest India to be predicted four months in advance, helping authorities prepare for them much earlier than before.