Kottayam
Although both dengue and H1N1 have continued to be reported from different parts of the district, death rate from these two diseases have come down to zero for the second consecutive year in Kottayam. According to N. Priya, Deputy DMO, who is in charge of communicable diseases, there had been 21 confirmed cases of H1N1 and 50 confirmed cases of dengue in the district in 2017.
“Currently there are 70 probable cases of H1N1 and 21 probable cases of dengue,” she said. The dengue cases this year are mostly from one grama panchayat area, Panachikkad, which is in the grip of acute drinking water shortage. “People are forced to stock water and often in unhygienic surroundings and this results in vector growth,” she pointed out.
Wayanad
As many as 46 cases of H1N1 have been reported so far this year in the district against two last year, but right now the health authorities are focused on tackling an outbreak of Hepatitis A in various parts of the district, especially at Thondarnadu and Padinharethara areas. As many as 212 Hepatitis A cases have been reported in the district this year as against 208 cases last year. However, District Medical Officer R. Vivek Kumar told The Hindu that the situation is under control now. The number of dengue, leptospirosis and Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), malaria and chikingunya cases have shown a declining trend this year.
The district administration has decided to observe three dry days a week by coordinating various departments to combat the spread of communicable diseases, District Collector B. S. Thirumeni said.
Alappuzha
A pre-monsoon sanitation campaign has been launched in Alappuzha district with a view to preventing diseases such as leptospirosis and dengue fever. About 70 cases of leptospirosis and more than 40 dengue fever cases were reported in the district during the first 100 days of this year.
Efforts are on to check dengue outbreak. Ward-level committees have been asked to monitor implementation of sanitation projects. Sanitation mapping will be done with the help of the district Suchitwa Mission.
Malappuram
Tangible measures like dry container promotion and close surveillance of vector density are being adopted during this summer in the district to prevent outbreak of dengue and people with travel history are being advised to be vigilant against the spread of H1N1. The authorities have also ensured the availability of Oseltamivir tablets in all clinics and hospitals.
Ernakulam
As many as 55 cases of H1N1 with two deaths and 47 cases of dengue fever with no deaths have been reported in the district.
According to district surveillance officer Balagangadharan, the deaths due to H1N1 had occurred in high-risk patients.
Kozhikode
Health authorities in the district are teaming up with the district Suchitwa Mission and the local governments for pre-monsoon cleaning. Ward level committees have been formed to map the vulnerable areas.
The district administration has also asked the Labour Department to conduct medical screening camps and cleaning drives in places where migrant labourers are accommodated as they are the most vulnerable group.
With inputs from George Jacob (Kottayam), E.M. Manoj (Wayanad), R. Ramabhadran Pillai (Alappuzha), Abdul Latheef Naha (Malappuram) Shyama Rajagopal (Kochi) and Aabha Anoop (Kozhikode)
