With the confirmation of three more clinically confirmed cases in Chittar and Pathanamthitta, the total number of dengue fever cases reported from various government hospitals in the district has gone up to 80 on Tuesday.
Deputy District Medical Officer L. Anithakumari told The Hindu that the Health Department had taken elaborate sanitation arrangements, besides extensive mosquito-source reduction drive, across the district in view of the growing number of viral fever cases following the onset of rain.
Leptosirosis
Dr. Anithakumari said that one more leptospirosis case had been clinically confirmed, taking the total number of infected patients to 39 on Tuesday.
Official sources said that the maximum number of dengue fever cases had been reported from Vallana and surrounding areas near Aranmula.
This was besides the large number of dengue fever cases and leptospirosis registered at various private health-care hospitals in Pathanamthitta district.
Arrangements reviewed
Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas convened an official meeting in the district on Tuesday to review the arrangements for sanitation and vector control being made by various departments and the local self-government institutions to contain fever in the district in view of the monsoon.
However, he said that there was no need for panic, as the department had already launched the pre-monsoon sanitation drive.
Mr. Thomas said that the local body authorities and the State government departments should ensure prompt and effective functioning of ward-level sanitation committees in all panchayats and municipalities in the district.
Two-member volunteer teams have been constituted for every 50 houses in each panchayat and municipal ward for carrying out public awareness campaigns, he said.
The Minister said that June 2 and 3 would be observed as ‘dry day’ to ensure effective mosquito-source reduction in different parts of the district. The deputy director of panchayats should seek prompt weekly reports on the sanitation and mosquito reduction programmes in all panchayats of the district.
Sanitation teams
The ward-level sanitation teams would organise mosquito-source reduction and sanitation drives at schools in their respective jurisdiction on Friday, at offices on Saturday, and at households on Sundays.
The heads and members of all panchayats and civic bodies and various other people’s representatives should ensure effective sanitation in each ward, he said.
Fever clinics
Veena George, MLA, said fever clinics should be opened at all government hospitals in the district. Clogged drains should be cleared on a war footing, she said.
Addressing the meeting, District Collector D. Balamurali said that the administration would convene a special meeting to discuss the health problems in places where guest workers were camping.
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