386 dengue cases in Pathanamthitta

Kudumbasree, health workers embark on a vector-control drive in the district

The Health Department and the Elanthoor block panchayat have jointly launched an intensive mosquito source reduction drive in the dengue fever-hit village of Elanthoor on Friday.

Block panchayat president M.B. Sathyan told The Hindu that the panchayat had mobilised Kudumbasree workers to assist health workers in the source reduction drive, which was identified as an important means to contain the vector-borne disease.

Emergency fund

Mr Sathyan said the National Rural Health Mission had sanctioned an emergency fund worth Rs.10,000 to each panchayat ward for sanitation work in the backdrop of the dengue fever outbreak.

According to Deputy District Medical Officer and the District Surveillance Officer L. Anithakumari, a total of 386 confirmed cases of dengue fever had been reported from different parts of the district as on Saturday. This is besides the 564 suspected dengue cases.

With the onset of monsoon, viral fever, including dengue viral infection, has been spreading to an epidemic proportion in certain parts of the district.

The district has recorded a total of 36,140 cases of viral fever at various government healthcare centres in the district as on Saturday.

The number of fever cases reported from various government healthcare centres on Saturday alone was 480, official sources said.

Leptospirosis

The situation turns much more alarming with the growing number of dengue and leptospirosis cases reported from different part of the district.

Official records show that a total of 39 confirmed cases of leptospirosis have been reported from the district during the past five months, besides 50 suspected cases. One patient died of leptospirosis at Elanthoor, besides three suspected dengue casualties in June.

Worst-hit

Kadammanitta, Elanthoor, Pallickal, Naranammoozhy, Ranni-Pazhavangady, Ranni-Angady, and Ranni were identified as the worst dengue fever-hit areas in the district in June.

Pollution of water bodies due to callous dumping of waste from chicken corners, slaughter houses, hotels, markets, etc, is a major public health menace facing many towns in the district, leaving public health the ultimate casualty.