Almost a week after five cases of malaria were detected in a family at Puthiyappa, a fresh case has been reported from Vilyappilli, near Nadapuram, on Wednesday.
District Medical Officer R.L. Saritha said that it was an imported case and that the patient had contracted the disease during his visit to another State recently. She said that awareness classes would be held in all schools on Thursday as part of the precautionary measure against spread of the disease.
Minister meets family
Meanwhile, Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran visited the infected family at Puthiyappa on Tuesday. He said it was a serious issue and that the Health Minister would be informed about the action taken and the measures needed to be taken.
In a review meeting on the situation held at the Public Health Centre at Puthiyappa, the Minister said Health Department personnel were able to put a check on the spread of the disease in the region. They visited houses in the neighbourhood creating awareness about the situation and urging the public to take precautionary measures. They collected 593 blood samples from the region.
He said that priority would be given to avoiding the conditions that may cause malaria.
Stress on cleanliness
Health standing committee chairman of the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation K.V. Baburaj stressed on the need to ensure cleanliness and all basic facilities in places where migrant labourers were accommodated. Awareness posters should be published in Hindi as well. The Suchitwa Mission should increase the funds provided to each ward to ensure clean surroundings, he said.
The District Vector Control unit is organising a campaign on the coastal belt from Elathur to Kuttichira to educate the public on healthy habits and sanitation, as measure to control the mosquito density. The campaign titled ‘Nalla Seelam’ will be taken up with the help of volunteers.
Education standing committee chairman of the Corporation M. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Saritha, councillors V. Rahiya and K. Nisha, District Labour Officer (Enforcement) B.S. Rajiv, and Medical Officer of the PHC Sony Devasya took part in the meeting.
