Dengue and leptospirosis have emerged as two major threats this monsoon even as fever cases continued to be reported from various parts of the district.
On Saturday, 858 cases of fever were reported in government hospitals in the district. With this, the number of fever cases reported in the district since the start of the year has crossed 71,000. So far, 191 cases of dengue and 75 cases of leptospirosis have been confirmed in the district.
District Medical Officer Haseena Mohammed said seven suspected cases of dengue and one suspected case of leptospirosis were reported in the district on Saturday. Patients suspected of dengue were undergoing treatment at Amballur, Aluva, Marady, Chottanikkara, Kalamassery, Kochi Corporation, and Ayyampilly whereas the sole suspected case of leptospirosis was reported from Kothamangalam.
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Ms. Mohammed said the mosquito index in the district was not a cause for worry. Except for a few areas, mosquito density was relatively normal in the district. Government hospitals have been provided with additional beds to accommodate fever patients.
People have been asked to take precautions and follow instructions given by health authorities. The public should keep their residential premises clean and maintain personal hygiene.
Workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme have been asked to take preventive medicines available at primary health centres 24 hours before they go to work, Ms. Mohammed said. People have been asked to consult the nearest primary health centre in the event of fever as self-medication could prove dangerous under the present circumstances. Despite reiteration by health authorities that the outbreak of fever is yet to assume epidemic proportions, people are concerned about cases of dengue and leptospirosis being reported from various parts of the district.
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