Newmai News Network Aizawl | April 25 Despite the declining Malaria death rate reported over the past few years, at least 61 people have died because of the mosquito borne disease in three years from 2014-2016 in Mizoram, according to Mizoram Health & Family Welfare Commissioner Lalrinliana Fanai. Fanai said this while addressing the observance of World Malaria Day in Aizawl on Tuesday. Stating that the state Health Department has taken massive efforts to make Mizoram free of malaria cases, Fanai said that in 2015, a total of 26,400 people were suffering from Malaria out of which 21 people lost their lives while in 2014, 31 people lost their lives due to Malaria. According to Fanai, altogether 2,67,747 people had their blood tested during 2016, out of which 7583 were confirmed to be positive of Malaria. He said that nine people died of Malaria last year. During January to March, 2017, a total of 35,801 people had their blood tested out of which 582 people were found to be suffering from Malaria disease. However, prevalence of Malaria is expected to decline this year when compared to the preceding year, he claimed. The Mizoram Health & Family Welfare Commissioner stated that Anopheles mosquitoes are wide spread in Mizoram and to contain these insects the State Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (SVBDCP) is actively pursuing the issue to reduce Malaria prevalence. He said that spraying of DDT is pro-actively being taken up in the state as a preventive measure against Malaria and awareness programme is being carried out through television, radio and newspaper. The Mizoram Health & Family Welfare Commissioner said that due to the steps taken by Mizoram State Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (MSVBDCP) and the contribution made by civil societies and the general public, the rate of Malaria death is rapidly declining in Mizoram. According to him, the Malaria death rate is decreasing by 71.28% from last year. Meanwhile, the World Malaria Day with the theme "End Malaria for Good" is also being observed in all districts of Mizoram. It can be noted here that in an effort to create awareness and to rejuvenate the fight against Malaria, Mizoram on Tuesday joined the rest of the world in observing "World Malaria Day" with a theme "End Malaria for Good". The observance of World Malaria Day was held at the state’s Information & Public Relations Auditorium, Aizawl where Health & Family Welfare Commissioner Lalrinliana Fanai was the chief guest.