Coal mines linked to malaria

Coal mines linked to malaria

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Abandoned coal mines could be a
source of malaria in the province, the head of the health
ministry's provincial office here, Suwandi Makmur, said on
Saturday.

Quoting research by the Surabaya-based Technical Institution
for Environmental Health, Suwandi said several abandoned mines
were home to anopheles mosquitoes, which carry the disease.

He said abandoned mines were found in seven of 10 regencies
here.

"The abandoned mines are flooded during rainfall and host
anopheles mosquitoes," Suwandi told Antara. He warned that
malaria would continue to be a problem in the province if the
mines were not reclaimed.

He also said the trucks belonging to mining companies
operating in the area posed another risk to residents. "Some
residents have complained about lung problems caused by dust
spread by the trucks." (04)