The number of malaria deaths worldwide in 2010 was 1.24 million, nearly double the number previously estimated by the 2011 World Malaria Report (WMR). This is despite a 31-per-cent reduction in such deaths globally in the last five years.

This was stated in a study published on February 3 in The Lancet.

A couple of cases of Hepatitis B were reported from Palamel near Mavelikkara and isolated cases from neighbouring places in the district recently, according to the District Medical Officer (in-charge), Jacob Varghese.

Mr. Varghese was speaking at a meeting to discuss the action plan for prevention and control of communicable diseases here on Wednesday. Later speaking to The Hindu he said that the real cause of the disease in the area has not been ascertained yet.

Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates in London on Monday launched an initiative along with 13 pharmaceutical firms, World Health Organisation, World Bank and the US, UK and UAE governments to eliminate or control 10 neglected tropical diseases by the end of 2020.

As many as 12,772 Delhi Government school students, or nearly a third, of the 39,183 screened under the Chacha Nehru Sehat Yojana during the past eight weeks were found to be suffering from some form of ailments, Delhi Health Minister A.K. Walia said on Monday.

The Minister said 26,411 school children were screened for deficiencies, diseases and disabilities under the scheme, while another 9,908 school children had attended the Outdoor Patient's Department being run by the doctors during their visit to the schools.

Bill Gates, co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has praised India for managing to eradicate polio despite all odds. “In 2012, we need to keep India and all the other places that are polio-free from getting re-infected,” he said.

Only three years ago, India had more polio cases than any nation, he noted. This is a milestone for global polio eradication and for children's health worldwide, Mr. Gates said in his fourth annual letter released worldwide on Wednesday.

Changmey health assistant Karma Wangdi has an old patient of his to see in the evening.