SHANGLA: A spike has been witnessed in malaria cases across the Shangla district, where the mosquito-borne disease has been detected in over 4,000 people in Puran, Bisham and Alpuri tehsils since June as a number of patients suffering from high fever visit hospitals daily. Officials of the health department said the out-patient departments of the government hospitals had been reporting great number of patients with high fever. They said the department had stepped up efforts to contain the disease with the help of the community members and traders. Medical superintendent of Pir Mohammad Khan Shaheed Hospital, Puran, Dr Ghafoor Khan confirmed the spike in the malaria cases, saying that the facility examined a total of 5,910 malaria slides in July and August, out of whom, 3,198 tested positive for malaria. Officials say health dept stepped up efforts to contain disease He said most patients belonged to Martung, Makhozi, Aloch, Bengalai, Sundvi and adjacent areas. Dr Ghafoor said they had been providing free medicines and conducting free tests for malaria. He urged the people to adopt precautionary measures against the mosquito-borne disease. Meanwhile, data obtained from the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Bisham, shows that a total of 1,260 patients were screened since June, of whom, 910 tested positive for malaria. This reporter observed rush of people outside the laboratory of the Bisham hospital, who complained of suffering from high fever and body ache. Data obtained from the District Headquarters Hospital, Alpuri, showed the health facility reported only 24 cases in June, 31 in July and 21 in August. Deputy medical superintendent of DHQ Hospital Dr Salahuddin Ayubi told Dawn that the situation in Alpuri and its suburbs was normal. He said spike in malaria cases was reported from Puran and Bisham tehsils. Separately, a meeting on how to contain surge in malaria cases in Shangla was held at the office of the assistant commissioner, Bisham. Health officials, lady health workers and other stakeholders were in attendance. The health officials informed the participants about the surge in malaria cases, and sought cooperation of all the stakeholders in containing the disease. The officials said five dengue cases had also been reported in Bisham tehsil. On the occasion, lady health workers demanded payment of their salary, which has been pending for last five months. The participants vowed to make people aware that only precautionary measures could help protect themselves from malaria and dengue.