Malaria cases continue to rise in the western districts of the state. The number of cases recorded in three western districts was around 11,000 till last week, half of the total cases of 22,000 reported so far in the state. "This year the number of cases reported in the state have increased due to heavy rain in the western districts. Senior officials have visited all the districts of the state and we are on our toes to control the disease," BR Meena, additional director (Rural Health) said. However, a number of cases have been reported in the past two weeks. "It is alarming that more than 10,000 cases were reported since the past fortnight. We have shortage of doctors as those manning the primary health centres in rural areas were contract doctor who did not participate in the strike. Besides, Swasthya Chetna Yatra too disturbed the routine screening and the collection of blood slides meant for malaria testing," a highly placed source said. Though falciparum malaria and dengue cases are being mostly reported from the eastern districts, officials, however, claimed that pre-emptive efforts have prevented the catastrophe in this season. The worst affected districts which have received a significant increase in malaria cases include Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Rajsamand, Baran, Pratapgarh, Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Banswara.