Even as the State Health Department is struggling to deal with the rapid increase in the number of dengue cases, it now has another challenge. Diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable disease, has again surfaced in the State with three confirmed cases being reported from a residential school in Mysuru this week.
Fifteen other children, from Mahaboodhi Residential School at Mysuru, suspected to have contracted the disease, are also under treatment.
Two of these children were treated at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Bengaluru and have been discharged, said institute Director Asha Benekappa.
All the suspected cases from the residential school, located in Saraswathipuram in Mysuru, have been isolated and admitted to the Epidemic Diseases hospital in Mysuru.
They are from Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh, and they have either missed vaccination or have been partially vaccinated, according to the doctor.
Mysuru District Health Officer Basavaraj said all the children in the school, who showed symptoms, had been administered DPT dose and booster tablets.
State figures
At the State-run Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Bengaluru, 16 confirmed cases have been reported from June till date this year.
Of these, four children succumbed to the disease. From January this year till date, the institute has seen over 85 cases, said Dr. Asha Benekappa.
However, State Deputy Director (Immunisation) A. Ramachandra Bairy told The Hindu the State reported 15 confirmed and 45 suspected cases from January this year. Dr. Bairy said while most of the affected are partially immunised or have missed vaccination, a few fell prey to it due to malnutrition.
“What is of concern is that people are not taking precautions though the disease is largely preventable. Pentavalent vaccine, which is part of the universal immunisation programme, can be taken free at government hospitals,” said Dr. Bairy.
Out of ignorance
Dr. Asha Benekappa said: “The vaccine has to be taken at six weeks, 10th and 14th weeks, which is later followed up with booster dose at 18 months, five years and 10 years. While some are ignorant about the schedule, others are not motivated.” She said there is a need for a massive campaign to check spread of the disease.
