The Hindu : Fever incidence under control, claims Sankaran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 05, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Fever incidence under control, claims Sankaran

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 4. The Health Minister, P. Sankaran, and Secretary (Health), K. Ramamoorthy, claimed on Friday that the upsurge in fever cases in the State had plateaued out. The situation was under control and the incidence was expected to come down in the coming days.

Addressing a press conference here, they said that as many as 34 persons had died of dengue fever and 32 of leptospirosis this year. Besides, two died of typhoid and one of malaria. Of those died of dengue fever, 28 persons had died in June. They admitted that some deaths might not have been reported. (The unofficial count is about 200).

The Minister said that the larger number of cases had been reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The experts from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, R. C. Sharma, V. K. Raina and U. V. S. Rana, had toured three districts and their report was awaited.

The experts, who were present at the press conference, said that the dengue fever would be most harmful if a person caught it the second time. Hence, a second outbreak in Kerala could be very dangerous. Rubber plantations were found to be the biggest breeding ground of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, which spread the disease, with mosquitoes breeding in the coconut shells used for collecting latex.

Tests conducted last time, they said, had shown that about 50 per cent of the cattle in affected areas carried viruses causing leptospirosis, besides rodents. Steps should be taken to collect urine of cattle in pits to prevent viruses from reaching water sources and surface soil. Early diagnosis and treatment could save many patients.

The Minister denied that patients were not getting proper treatment at the Medical Colleges and other Government hospitals. There had not been any shortage of blood at the Medical College here. Anticipating the need for more bloods, requests had been made to the Regional Cancer Centre and the Sree Chitra Medical Centre here.

Steps had been taken to appoint doctors on contract basis and fill up vacant posts. Promotions and posting had also been speeded up. Noting that there was shortage of doctors, the Minister said that the period for which Government doctors could go on leave had been reduced from 20 years to 10 years. Government service by doctors passing out from Medical Colleges would be made mandatory.

He said that the Government proposed several long-term measures to improve sanitation in the State. Waste management facilities would be taken up in each panchayat. Proper maintenance of drainages, roads and market places and supply of adequate drinking water would be ensured. As short-term measures, source reduction, fogging, spraying and other vector control activities had been started. Local Self-Government (LSG) leaders were to supervise vector control and public awareness campaigns. About ten per cent of the budgets of LSGs were to be earned for public health activities.

He said that several clinics had been started in medical colleges and Government hospitals. Medical camps were being conducted in problem areas. Medicines needed for the next two weeks had been stocked. Committees had been formed with district collector as chairman to monitor disease control activities.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

HC directive to Kerala Govt. on Thomas case

No need to withdraw palmolein case: Karunakaran

Govt. bid to protect sandal lobby?

Revised telephone tariff

CPI flays nod for rubber import

SBI planning new products

Fever incidence under control, claims Sankaran

Survey is 'mere documentation', says Census Director

CIA charge `preposterous', says V. Ramachandran