The district Health authorities have stepped up preventive activities against communicable diseases even as the monsoon has intensified over the past couple of days.
Addressing a press meet here on Friday, District Medical Officer N. K. Kuttappan said that with the opening of schools, people need to be more alert about the spread of air-borne diseases such as H1N1 and diphtheria among children. He said that the co-operation of all sections of society, including that of socio-religious groups, non-governmental organisations and residents’ associations was necessary to curb the spread of diseases.
Health workers have launched a 14-day surveillance programme in Mattancherry, Koonammavu, Palluruthy, Mulavukkad, Okkal and Binanipuram from where suspected cases of diseases were reported. They have also collected swabs for testing from 39 persons for suspected diphtheria.
So far, eight cases of diphtheria have been reported with two deaths. One victim was a boy from Assam on a visit here, while the other death, which has been bracketed as a suspected case for technical reasons, was of a four-year-old from the district, who died in Kozhikode as he was taken there for alternative treatment.
It is the first time that diphtheria has been reported in the district in recent times. Members of the Health team said that they were looking to achieve 100% immunisation that would give children protection against the disease.
Covering the mouth with a handkerchief while coughing or sneezing would help contain air-borne microbes from entering the atmosphere. It was important to take rest at home when one was suffering from fever, they said.
Hand-washing with soap after visiting public places was also an important factor in keeping diseases at bay.
Taking safe and hygienic food and water would keep away water-borne diseases. To ensure that the water source was not contaminated, people should utilise the chlorine provided by the Health department to cleanse ponds or wells, they said.
