The outbreak of malaria in Tripura since last month has claimed 68 lives and affected over 30,000 people, Health Minister Badal Choudhury said today.

"One more death was reported from Shantirbazar area in South Tripura district yesterday and the toll rose to 68 since last month," he said.

The total number of malaria patients rose to 30453 in the period, a press statement issued by the Health department today said.

Doctors and medical staffs were camping in the malaria prone areas, mostly in tribal inhabited areas.

Choudhury said the Border Security Force and Tripura State Rifles personnel were cooperating with the medical teams working in the remote areas and one helicopter was pressed into service for carrying health workers and patients.

The stock of drugs was adequate, the statement said.

Earlier, the central government had sent two malaria expert teams which visited the affected areas and distributed drugs. The team also collected blood samples of the patients for examination.