Despite assurances given by the authorites about all preventive measures being taken, malignant malaria has struck the city again for the second consecutive year. Figures compiled by the Indian School of Tropical Medicine (ISTM) suggest that of the 1,700 blood samples checked till last month, 150 confirmed evidence of plasmodium faliciparm, the malignant malaria parasite that often strikes with fatal consequences. During the same period last year, of the 1,500 blood samples checked, 93 were positive. Official figures show that seven people have so far succembed to malignant malaria and 55 are fighting the disease.