KARACHI - Experts on Tuesday warned the citizens to be cautious against malaria and contagious infections of viral fever, being spread as epidemic in the City. They stressed the need for holding fumigation drive to eradicate mosquitoes, causing malaria and dengue fever. "Malaria, caused by parasites of the species Plasmodium (mosquitoes) is the cause of more than 50,000 deaths each year in the country mostly in infants, children and pregnant women. Globally more than 500 million malaria cases are reported every year, while over one million people die of malaria every year. Malaria remains a major threat for 3.2 billion people in more than 107 countries throughout the world. According to the WHO, the estimated number of annual malaria cases in Pakistan is more than 1.6 million," they said while talking to The Nation on Tuesday. Honorary President Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi Dr Aziz Khan Tank said that every General Practitioner (GP), working in every part of the City, was receiving 40 to 50 patients having signs and symptoms of malaria. He said, "Improper cleanliness in and around the houses is the major cause of mosquitoes' breeding that causes malaria to thousands of people yearly. Citizens need to adopt precautionary measures against the bite of mosquitoes." PMA General Secretary (Karachi chapter) Dr Samrina Hashmi said that the government was doing nothing except exposing its all efforts merely in print and electronic media in context of eradicating the disease, despite the fact that malaria remains a major public health problem in the country. "Kerosene oil can play vital role in context of eliminating the mosquitoes, if the oil is sprayed over opened water pools and ponds of contaminated water. The significance of preventive measures against malaria, causing a death of children every 30 seconds globally, can not be ignored," she added. Talking about the viral fever, she said that viral fever was a contagious infection, which often spread in dry whether, with the symptoms of low or high grade fever, running nose, nasal congestion, headache, redness of the eyes, cough, muscle and joint pains. "Air pollution and dusty environment cause infection among the people. The people are affected with the fever by the intake of contaminated water or food or by direct contact with affected person. Citizens need to take preventive measures against transmittable fever. The use of more fluids, vegetables and fruits for affected people was essential. No medical treatment is required if the fever is mild with no other problems. However, the treatment is required to low-grade fever if an affected child or adult is feeling uncomfortable, vomiting, dehydrated, or face difficulty while sleeping."