MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Red Cross on Tuesday said it has recorded 21 cases of malaria in a municipality in Camarines Norte province.

The PRC Camarines Norte Chapter said an increase in malaria cases were reported in barangays Osmena and Luklukan Sur in the municipality of Jose Panganiban.

A clean-up drive has been set and the PRC also recommended the distribution of treated mosquito nets and hygiene kits to affected residents, particularly indigenous people living in a relocation site.
 
For its part, the local government unit will conduct massive screening test and malaria information campaign while the provincial health office is tasked to provide technical assistance in the conduct of training for barangay health workers and collection of blood samples.

The World Health Organization said there are 300 million-500 million accounted clinical cases of malaria per year and 1.5 million - 2.7 million deaths from malaria each year.