The District Medical Officer (Health) on Thursday issued an advisory against the outbreak of malaria in Kozhikode district after three cases of an indigenous form of the disease was reported in the city limits in the past two days.
V. Jayashree, DMO, told The Hindu that indigenous malaria cases were being reported from certain parts of the district for the past three years.
“There is a common form of malaria found among migrant labourers who belong to other States. Another form is diagnosed among natives who return here after travelling to other places. The indigenous form is found among natives who don’t travel much.” Such cases were more common in coastal areas, she said.
A press release issued by the DMO’s office said those diagnosed with indigenous malaria were undergoing treatment at the General Hospital and the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.
“The larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes, which spread malaria, have been found in not-so-deep wells in coastal areas. People should take precautions against mosquito bites, and avoid sleeping in open spaces, especially in the beach area,” the release said. Intermittent fever, severe headache, shivering and nausea are the main symptoms and the disease could be diagnosed only through blood test.
Cleanliness drive
Dr. Jayashree said that a team of health officials met Mayor Thottathil Raveendran on Thursday seeking the civic body’s help to start a cleanliness drive.
“We have urged the Mayor to convene a meeting of officials from the Fisheries and Port departments to make it more effective. It will be held in the next few days,” she said.
Awareness campaigns had already started in various areas and health activists would soon begin fogging and spraying of insecticides in places where there was a high chance of an outbreak, Dr. Jayashree added.
