The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Three diphtheria deaths confirmed

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Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Three diphtheria deaths confirmed

Staff Reporter

Steps for anti-diphtheria serum

No fever deaths reported
Chikungunya confirmed in 36 persons

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One person each had died in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Malappuram districts due to diphtheria since March this year, Health Minister P. K. Sreemathy has said.

In a written reply to a question in the Assembly on Tuesday, the Minister said diphtheria is yet to be eradicated in the State.

Ms. Sreemathy said the government had taken steps to make anti-diphtheria serum available in the State. Diphtheria can be fatal because once infected, the toxins released by the bacteria can spread through the blood and cause significant damage to the heart, nervous system or the kidneys, she said in the reply.

Of the three deaths due to diphtheria, a seven-year-old child had died due to laryngeal diphtheria in the Kottoor-Valipara tribal settlement, near Vellanad in Thiruvananthapuram district.

The Minister, in reply to another question, said no deaths had been reported from the State this year due to chikungunya and fever. Chikungunya had been confirmed in 36 persons and dengue fever in 123 persons in the State till June 21 this year.

Medical camps

Medical camps will be organised at various places, especially in the northern districts, to check the disease from spreading, she said.

Ms. Sreemathy said 63 Allopathy medical camps, 30 Homeopathy camps and four Ayurveda camps were organised in Kasaragod district alone to check the spread of chikungunya, Ms. Sreemathy said.

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