Singapore: "At least 41 people, including 31 children, have died and more than 22,000 have fallen ill since the first week of this month. Of the 22,000 affected people, the malaria germ has been found in the blood of 3,215 of them," Tripura Health and Family Welfare minister Mr Badal Choudhury informed.

All the affected people have been admitted to various government hospitals. A team of malaria experts from the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, led by Mr Awadesh Kumar have been sent to supervise the situation and advise the state government on how to deal with the outbreak.

The minister, along with medical experts, has visited the malaria-affected areas many times. "Several medical teams are working in the disease-affected areas. SOS has been sent to Tripura officials in Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi to urgently send adequate quantities of medicines," he said.

Chief minister Mr Manik Sarkar held a series of meetings with doctors, officials and ministers to review the situation. He asked his ministers to rush to the malaria-hit areas and stay there till the situation improves.