Thursday, July 31, 2003
Seven more dengue cases
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 30. At least seven cases of confirmed dengue and one case of leptospirosis were reported from the city and various parts of the district on Wednesday.
The confirmed cases have been sourced to the Medical College, Tagore Gardens and Vallakadavu areas in the city while the other patients are from Manamboor, Balaramapuram, Edava and Vattiyoorkavu.
The patients, included a 11-year-old boy from Balaramapuram, who has been admitted to the SAT Hospital. Meanwhile, 824 patients reported with complaints of viral fever at health institutions in the district.
WHO kept in dark on epidemics outbreak
KOZHIKODE: Though the outbreak of killer diseases like dengue, viral fever and leptospirosis has already claimed 181 lives in the State since January 2003, the grave issue is yet to draw the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In the case of dengue and leptospirosis, which have been included in the list of notified diseases last year, it is mandatory for the Government to inform the WHO about their outbreak.
‘‘It is the onus of the State Government to take up the outbreak of epidemics with the WHO. The international body cannot voluntarily step into a State for various reasons,’’ says Jayaram, information unit secretary with the WHO’s Regional Office for South East Asia, New Delhi.
‘‘The State should have viewed it as an emergency situation. Unless the State Government provides the data, the WHO cannot do anything. The WHO cannot act alone, it responds to the feed back from various agencies and governments,’’ the WHO official told The New Indian Express.
When contacted, State Health Director in-charge Dr Sivaraman told this paper that the Department had already taken up the issue with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).
‘‘We are giving reports to the NICD on a daily basis about the latest position of the epidemic outbreak in the State. The NICD should have reported to WHO’s regional office. Dengue and leptospirosis are notified diseases. The outbreak of these diseases, apart from that of the non-notified ones, should have been conveyed to the WHO,’’ says Dr Sivaraman.
From January till last Sunday, a total of 808 leptospirosis cases have been reported from the State with 49 deaths. In the case of dengue, the total cases are 1,755 and deaths 51. More than four lakh people were afflicted with viral fever, which claimed 83 lives. Besides, 1,005 cases of malaria were also reported during the period.
The exact figures of confirmed cases and the death toll will be much higher as the State lacks a fool-proof documentation system encompassing both public and private hospitals in the State. Moreover, the reasons behind several epidemic deaths go unconfirmed as many patients reaching hospital in critical condition die, leaving no time for diagnosis.
The failure in detection may also play down the exact figures, medical sources said.
The magnitude of the infectious disease outbreak in Kerala so far this year could be gauged only by comparing the figures of similar outbreaks listed by the WHO in its weekly epidemological record based on the data received from across the world.
Typhoid in Hawaii claimed 40 deaths and 200 confirmed cases this year so far. Algeria reported 10 plague cases, Liberia had 15 cholera deaths, Mozambique had 87 cholera deaths and Sudan had 27 yellow fever deaths. The WHO is involved in combating the diseases in these countries.
Last year also the epidemic outbreaks in Kerala did not come to the notice of the WHO. However, the international body reported outbreaks of plague in Himachal Pradesh (4 deaths) and cholera in Orissa (33 deaths) in 2002 .
Dengue toll rises to 11 in city
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 28. The incidence of dengue and leptospirosis in the capital city and district continues to cause concern in spite of the concerted attempts by the Health authorities to contain the spread of these vector-borne epidemics.
With one more dengue-related death in a city hospital being officially confirmed today, the toll in the district has risen to 11 so far this year.
Aji (28), the latest victim of dengue complications, had died at a private hospital where he had been under treatment since July 22. The youth had been referred from Moonnammoodu in Vattiyoorkavu.
The control room staff at the District Medical Office said 10 more confirmed cases of dengue, including one death, had been reported in the city and suburbs on Monday. This was besides the 14 suspected cases regarding which serological analysis was awaited.
The rising cases of dengue in the Corporation areas was of particular concern, with six of Monday's confirmed cases referred from the All Saint's College area, Kanjirampara, Barton Hill and Pattom. Two cases were from the Manacaud area. Barring a 40-year-old woman, the remaining cases were of children who were being treated at the General Hospital and the SAT Hospitals.
The other cases were reported from Balaramapuram and Kulatthoor and Tiruvallam. The number of patients complaining of viral fever at health care centres across the district on Monday aggregated 871.
A sharp increase in the incidence of dengue infections had been witnessed this month despite attempts to involve community participation in sprucing up household and environmental hygiene and vector control measures.
The district administration, with the collaboration of various departments and NGOs, had even launched a one-day intensive cleaning up operation throughout the district.
House-to-house visits also formed part of the awareness campaigns to convey the importance of reducing mosquito population as the only sure-fire method of tackling dengue. The awareness spiel sought to drive home the fact that there would be no dengue without aedes mosquitoes.
In fact, several vector surveys undertaken in the city in the past had indicated a rather high density of aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes which are the specific vectors of dengue.
However, data indicate that 235 out of the 383 confirmed dengue cases mapped out in the January-July phase were reported in July. The month also saw two dengue-related deaths.
Meanwhile, there have been 28 cases of leptospirosis and two deaths reported in till July. Nineteen confirmed cases of the rat-transmitted leptospirosis were reported in July alone.
Viral fever complications accounted for 24 lives in January-July. There were 10 viral fever deaths reported in July alone.
16 new cases of dengue
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 27. At least 16 new cases of confirmed dengue fever and two cases of malaria were reported from different parts of the city and the district on Saturday.
According to the control room at the District Medical Office, the new dengue cases include three children.
While a 14-year-old boy from Vilappil had been admitted to the Medical College, a 12-year-old boy from Vamanapuram was under treatment at the Women and Children's Hospital, Thycaud and another 13-year-old girl from Malayinkeezh was admitted to the General Hospital.
The adult cases have been reported from Anayara, Karamana and Vallakadavu in the Corporation area.
The other cases have been reported from Nedumangad, Poovar, Perumbazhathoor, Kalliyoor, Vamanapuram, Kottukal, Pangappara and Vilappil.
Seven more dengue cases
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 30. At least seven cases of confirmed dengue and one case of leptospirosis were reported from the city and various parts of the district on Wednesday.
The confirmed cases have been sourced to the Medical College, Tagore Gardens and Vallakadavu areas in the city while the other patients are from Manamboor, Balaramapuram, Edava and Vattiyoorkavu.
The patients, included a 11-year-old boy from Balaramapuram, who has been admitted to the SAT Hospital. Meanwhile, 824 patients reported with complaints of viral fever at health institutions in the district.
WHO kept in dark on epidemics outbreak
KOZHIKODE: Though the outbreak of killer diseases like dengue, viral fever and leptospirosis has already claimed 181 lives in the State since January 2003, the grave issue is yet to draw the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In the case of dengue and leptospirosis, which have been included in the list of notified diseases last year, it is mandatory for the Government to inform the WHO about their outbreak.
‘‘It is the onus of the State Government to take up the outbreak of epidemics with the WHO. The international body cannot voluntarily step into a State for various reasons,’’ says Jayaram, information unit secretary with the WHO’s Regional Office for South East Asia, New Delhi.
‘‘The State should have viewed it as an emergency situation. Unless the State Government provides the data, the WHO cannot do anything. The WHO cannot act alone, it responds to the feed back from various agencies and governments,’’ the WHO official told The New Indian Express.
When contacted, State Health Director in-charge Dr Sivaraman told this paper that the Department had already taken up the issue with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).
‘‘We are giving reports to the NICD on a daily basis about the latest position of the epidemic outbreak in the State. The NICD should have reported to WHO’s regional office. Dengue and leptospirosis are notified diseases. The outbreak of these diseases, apart from that of the non-notified ones, should have been conveyed to the WHO,’’ says Dr Sivaraman.
From January till last Sunday, a total of 808 leptospirosis cases have been reported from the State with 49 deaths. In the case of dengue, the total cases are 1,755 and deaths 51. More than four lakh people were afflicted with viral fever, which claimed 83 lives. Besides, 1,005 cases of malaria were also reported during the period.
The exact figures of confirmed cases and the death toll will be much higher as the State lacks a fool-proof documentation system encompassing both public and private hospitals in the State. Moreover, the reasons behind several epidemic deaths go unconfirmed as many patients reaching hospital in critical condition die, leaving no time for diagnosis.
The failure in detection may also play down the exact figures, medical sources said.
The magnitude of the infectious disease outbreak in Kerala so far this year could be gauged only by comparing the figures of similar outbreaks listed by the WHO in its weekly epidemological record based on the data received from across the world.
Typhoid in Hawaii claimed 40 deaths and 200 confirmed cases this year so far. Algeria reported 10 plague cases, Liberia had 15 cholera deaths, Mozambique had 87 cholera deaths and Sudan had 27 yellow fever deaths. The WHO is involved in combating the diseases in these countries.
Last year also the epidemic outbreaks in Kerala did not come to the notice of the WHO. However, the international body reported outbreaks of plague in Himachal Pradesh (4 deaths) and cholera in Orissa (33 deaths) in 2002 .
Dengue toll rises to 11 in city
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 28. The incidence of dengue and leptospirosis in the capital city and district continues to cause concern in spite of the concerted attempts by the Health authorities to contain the spread of these vector-borne epidemics.
With one more dengue-related death in a city hospital being officially confirmed today, the toll in the district has risen to 11 so far this year.
Aji (28), the latest victim of dengue complications, had died at a private hospital where he had been under treatment since July 22. The youth had been referred from Moonnammoodu in Vattiyoorkavu.
The control room staff at the District Medical Office said 10 more confirmed cases of dengue, including one death, had been reported in the city and suburbs on Monday. This was besides the 14 suspected cases regarding which serological analysis was awaited.
The rising cases of dengue in the Corporation areas was of particular concern, with six of Monday's confirmed cases referred from the All Saint's College area, Kanjirampara, Barton Hill and Pattom. Two cases were from the Manacaud area. Barring a 40-year-old woman, the remaining cases were of children who were being treated at the General Hospital and the SAT Hospitals.
The other cases were reported from Balaramapuram and Kulatthoor and Tiruvallam. The number of patients complaining of viral fever at health care centres across the district on Monday aggregated 871.
A sharp increase in the incidence of dengue infections had been witnessed this month despite attempts to involve community participation in sprucing up household and environmental hygiene and vector control measures.
The district administration, with the collaboration of various departments and NGOs, had even launched a one-day intensive cleaning up operation throughout the district.
House-to-house visits also formed part of the awareness campaigns to convey the importance of reducing mosquito population as the only sure-fire method of tackling dengue. The awareness spiel sought to drive home the fact that there would be no dengue without aedes mosquitoes.
In fact, several vector surveys undertaken in the city in the past had indicated a rather high density of aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes which are the specific vectors of dengue.
However, data indicate that 235 out of the 383 confirmed dengue cases mapped out in the January-July phase were reported in July. The month also saw two dengue-related deaths.
Meanwhile, there have been 28 cases of leptospirosis and two deaths reported in till July. Nineteen confirmed cases of the rat-transmitted leptospirosis were reported in July alone.
Viral fever complications accounted for 24 lives in January-July. There were 10 viral fever deaths reported in July alone.
16 new cases of dengue
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 27. At least 16 new cases of confirmed dengue fever and two cases of malaria were reported from different parts of the city and the district on Saturday.
According to the control room at the District Medical Office, the new dengue cases include three children.
While a 14-year-old boy from Vilappil had been admitted to the Medical College, a 12-year-old boy from Vamanapuram was under treatment at the Women and Children's Hospital, Thycaud and another 13-year-old girl from Malayinkeezh was admitted to the General Hospital.
The adult cases have been reported from Anayara, Karamana and Vallakadavu in the Corporation area.
The other cases have been reported from Nedumangad, Poovar, Perumbazhathoor, Kalliyoor, Vamanapuram, Kottukal, Pangappara and Vilappil.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Fever: Govt urged to order probe
KOCHI: The Organisation of Government Homoeo Medical Officers Kerala (OGHMOK) has urged the State Government to undertake a comprehensive probe into the death of 170 people, reportedly due to Dengue fever.
Addressing a media conference here on Friday, Dr V A Nassirudheen, president of OGHMOK expressed doubts over the fact that all these people were affected by Dengue fever.
“The allegations that Homoeopathy medicines were not effective in curing people affected with viral and Dengue fever are completely baseless,” said Dr V A Nassirudheen. He asserted that only Homeo can offer medicines to prevent the fever which has been raging in the state for the last couple of months. “The Homoeopathy Department has been effectively implementing measures to check the spread of epidemics like viral fever, Dengue fever and Leptospirosis in the State. The department had distributed medicines to over 60 lakh people and had succeeded in curing around 75,000 people,” said Dr V A Nassirudheen.
There was also no report of any death due to Homoeopathic treatment, he said while adding that it had already proved that Homoeopthy medicines are effective in controling other diseases as well.
He said the Government had allotted Rs 14 lakh for treating diseases. On the Indian Medical Association’s recent remarks that Homoeo medicines were ineffective for curing viral and Dengue fever, he said that the people of Kerala understood very well the effectiveness of Homoeo medicines and any attempt to mislead them will not succeed.
Dengue fever claims one life
KOCHI: While the health authorities are busy with the routine fever control measures, a person died of Dengue fever at the Medical Trust Hospital on Thursday.
James Joseph, 40, of Padimattom house, Perumanoor, was admitted to the hospital on July 15.
A farmer by profession, James had a farm in Kavalakkad in Perumbavoor. He is survived father and brother.
It is the first confirmed Dengue fever death. The authorities still maintain that many cases of deaths by fever occurred in the district earlier were not caused by Dengue.
13 more dengue cases
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 18. At least 13 fresh cases of confirmed dengue and three leptospirosis cases have been reported from the city and parts of the district.
According to Health Department officials, four suspected cases of dengue have also been reported in the district.
The fresh dengue cases have been reported from Valiathura, Pettah, Andoorkonam, Chowara, Vallakadavu, Vilappilsala, Tiruvallam, Peyyad, Tirumala, Neyyatinkara, Melancode and Mulluvila.
While three patients have been admitted to the SAT, two to the Medical College Hospital and two to a private hospital, the rest are under treatment at the General Hospital.
The leptospirosis cases reported from Vellarada, Attingal and Kunnathukal have been admitted to the Medical College.
Meanwhile, a meeting convened by the District Collector, E. Ayyappan, with health supervisors in 19 blocks, resolved to intensify the rapid action forces deployed in the dengue-affected areas.
Plans were finalised to implement a one-day cleanliness campaign in the district on July 25. The Collector has instructed offices, schools, hospitals and public sector undertakings to devise their own measures to ensure hygiene.
E. K. Madhavan, District Medical Officer, was present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Homoeo Medical Officers' Association and other organisations have taken exception to certain reports that cast doubts over the efficacy of homoeopathic medicines as preventive drugs against dengue.
The Association office-bearers said that no side-effects were associated with homoeopathy medicines if the right dosage was taken and the prescribed diet followed.
They pointed out that homoeopathic medicines had been effective in the past to limit the outbreak of infectious diseases such as cholera, encephalitis, viral conjunctivitis and chicken pox.
Thursday, July 17, 2003
17 more patients test positive for dengue
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 17. At least 17 patients, including seven from the Corporation area, tested positive for dengue, while five suspected dengue cases are kept under observation at various hospitals in the district.
No deaths have been reported, according to the Health Department officials.
The new cases were referred from Pallichal (two), Malayankeezh (three), Nemom (two), Anayara, Kunnukuzhy, Tiruvallam, Punnacode, Palancode, Pappanamcode (two cases), Palayam and Anayara.
While a majority of the cases have been admitted to the General Hospital, a patient with confirmed dengue hailing from Koovalasserry is being treated at the Malayankeezh Primary Health Centre (PHC).
Meanwhile, a nine-year-old boy from Pallichal, who had been under treatment for confirmed dengue infection at the Women and Children's Hospital, Thycaud, was today referred to the SAT Hospital.
According to the Health Department officials, an estimated 1,633 patients registered at out-patient clinics at various health institutions in the district with complaints of viral fever.
The number of dengue positive cases as well as viral fever cases is higher than the average recorded at the round-the-clock control room at the District Medical Office.
The average daily confirmation rate of dengue cases had been between five and ten over the past several days while out-patient registration of viral fever cases had been averaging a little over a thousand at various health care centres in the district. According to feedback from health centres in the district on Wednesday, there have been eight confirmed cases of dengue and an out-patient registration of 1,190 viral fever cases. However, this was much lesser than in some other districts such as Kannur (2,140), Kasaragod (1,636), Kollam (1,415) and Ernakulam (1,238).
WHO to despatch diagnostic kits
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 17. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is despatching diagnostic kits for the detection of dengue and leptospirosis, which have emerged as major killer diseases with the advancement of the Southwest monsoon.
The WHO would be sending 100 diagnostic kits for dengue and 500 kits for the detection of leptospirosis. The initial consignment was expected to reach Kozhikode on July 20, the Health Secretary, K. Ramamoorthy, told The Hindu.
Since January this year, the State has recorded 46 dengue deaths (with one more fatality reported from the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital today) and 43 deaths due to leptospirosis. The cumulative total of patients who have tested positive for dengue during serological examination is 1,363, while that in the case of leptospirosis is 798.
Harshvardhan Batra, an expert on leptospirosis attached to the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which has manufactured the diagnostic kits, is expected to accompany the consignment and render his expertise to the medical fraternity in the State.
Confronted with the spiral of viral fever and the mounting dengue and rat fever deaths, the Health Department has been forced to outsource for more diagnostic kits for the vector-borne diseases from centres in New Delhi, Chennai and the Indian Council for Medical Research.
Mr. Ramamoorthy had placed a request for more diagnostic kits to S. J. Habayeb, WHO representative in India, as early as June 26 detailing the gravity of the situation in the State.
The WHO's official communication confirming the despatch of the first batch of kits has come almost three weeks after the request was made. In between, the Health Department imported 96 diagnostic kits from a German manufacturer to shore up the stock position.
According to the Health Secretary, the kitswould be distributed among district-level laboratories, microbiology units attached to the Medical Colleges and the Public Health Laboratory. It is estimated that at least 100 patients can be subjected to serological examination using a single kit.
``We are focussing on the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness with multi-sectoral and community involvement'', Mr. Ramamoorthy said.
Suspected dengue death at MCH
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 16. A 52-year-old woman died of suspected dengue-like complications at the Medical Intensive Care Unit on Wednesday.
According to the Medical College Hospital (MCH) officials, the involvement of dengue infection has not been serologically confirmed and the death was hastened due to multiple organ failure leading to septicemic shock. Meanwhile, at least eight cases of confirmed dengue cases and one leptospirosis case were reported from the district on Wednesday.
New project mooted to contain epidemic
KOCHI: District Collector Gyanesh Kumar has announced that a project worth Rs 2 crore will be implemented in the district to prevent the spread of epidemic like dengue fever.
He made this announcement while presiding over an awareness programme held for the presidents and representatives of local bodies at the Collectorate on Wednesday.
The administration sanctioned Rs 1 lakh each to 88 grama panchayats, Rs 3 lakh each to 15 block panchayats, Rs 4 lakh each to 8 municipalities and Rs 5 lakh each for Corporation, District Panchayat and District Collector.
As a first step towards the implementation of the project, panchayat and ward level committees on control of communicable disease will be constituted and these committees will hold review meet every day. Local Self Governments (LSGs) are directed to prepare a project plan for preventive measures and curative aspects which may include purchase of preventive medicine and purchase of fogging machines and chemical sprays to contain the rat menace.
A resolution to this effect may be passed by the Local Self Government and the required amount that is to be taken from Plan fund has to be ratified by the District Planning Committee .
The Collector also directed that Village Panchayats and Municipalities should deem garbage disposal as their own responsibility.
Panchayats may identify a garbage disposal site, or two or three adjacent Panchayats or even a block may identify a common site for garbage disposal, he added.
Eminent Nephrologist Dr Georgy K Ninan made a presentation on various aspects of Leptospirosis and Dengue fever. Dr V K Krishanankutty, Deputy DMO (Homeo) explained the modalities of ‘Clear Kerala Campaign.’ The Deputy Director of Agriculture explained the strategies to be adopted to contain the rat menace. Dr Abraham Mathew, District Medical Officer (Homeo) spoke on the administration of preventive medicine against fever.
Others who attended the meet were K B Muhammadkutty master, President District Panchayat and Johnson K George, ADM.
Dengue fever claims one more life
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 15. Dengue fever claimed one more life with the death of a 28-year-old youth at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
According to health officials, Abhilash, hailing from Vattiyoorkavu, had been referred to the Medical College Hospital on July 7. Meanwhile, seven new cases of confirmed dengue were reported from various areas in the district.
Fever epidemic yet to be controlled
By M. Dinesh Varma
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 14. The sweep of dengue fever continues unabated due a combination of ineffective vector control measures and misplaced reliance on so-called preventive drugs, according to the findings of a recent survey undertaken by the Indian Medical Association(IMA) in the city.
The survey, which covered 1,040 high school students of a Government school and a `street sample' of 528 people, found that 46.9 per cent of children and 40.9 per cent of adults were affected by fever during the past two months. The results of the study were revealed by the IMA office-bearers today.
As many as 44.7 per cent of the surveyed population had been infected by fever in the past two months. The prevalence of fever in children (17.3 per cent) and adults (16.47 per cent) during the last one week was higher than the average of 5.58 per cent of the past two months and this indicated that the epidemic was far from being under control.
The infection control study was conducted by an expert committee comprising Sreejith Kumar, T. Suresh Kumar, V. C. Velayudhan Pillai, Alex Franklin, Anantha Narayanan and Joseph.
The IMA expressed doubts over the efficacy of the medicines being promoted as a preventive against dengue infection. According to the association, children and adults who were administered these medicines developed fever while those who did not take them, had not.
What was more serious was that 21.87 per cent of adults and 9.31 per cent of children who were administered these so-called preventive drugs also developed side-effects ranging from body ache and giddiness to diarrhoea and vomiting.
According to the IMA, while standard medical literature recommended controlling the aedes mosquito species, the survey established that the community at large was exposed to the dengue threat as vector control and environmental hygiene improvement measures covered barely 21 per cent of the area.
The IMA called for urgent vector control measures to prevent re-infection as well as to pre-empt fresh infections. Periodic vector surveys to limit the vector density, regular inter- epidemic surveillance and inter-departmental coordination were also recommended.
The IMA has appealed to the administration to evolve policies for mass health education.
New project mooted to contain epidemic
KOCHI: District Collector Gyanesh Kumar has announced that a project worth Rs 2 crore will be implemented in the district to prevent the spread of epidemic like dengue fever.
He made this announcement while presiding over an awareness programme held for the presidents and representatives of local bodies at the Collectorate on Wednesday.
The administration sanctioned Rs 1 lakh each to 88 grama panchayats, Rs 3 lakh each to 15 block panchayats, Rs 4 lakh each to 8 municipalities and Rs 5 lakh each for Corporation, District Panchayat and District Collector.
As a first step towards the implementation of the project, panchayat and ward level committees on control of communicable disease will be constituted and these committees will hold review meet every day. Local Self Governments (LSGs) are directed to prepare a project plan for preventive measures and curative aspects which may include purchase of preventive medicine and purchase of fogging machines and chemical sprays to contain the rat menace.
A resolution to this effect may be passed by the Local Self Government and the required amount that is to be taken from Plan fund has to be ratified by the District Planning Committee .
The Collector also directed that Village Panchayats and Municipalities should deem garbage disposal as their own responsibility.
Panchayats may identify a garbage disposal site, or two or three adjacent Panchayats or even a block may identify a common site for garbage disposal, he added.
Eminent Nephrologist Dr Georgy K Ninan made a presentation on various aspects of Leptospirosis and Dengue fever. Dr V K Krishanankutty, Deputy DMO (Homeo) explained the modalities of ‘Clear Kerala Campaign.’ The Deputy Director of Agriculture explained the strategies to be adopted to contain the rat menace. Dr Abraham Mathew, District Medical Officer (Homeo) spoke on the administration of preventive medicine against fever.
Others who attended the meet were K B Muhammadkutty master, President District Panchayat and Johnson K George, ADM.
Prevention of epidemics: IMA blames Govt
KOCHI: Viral fever may be under control in the State now, but if the Government fails to take up adequate preventive measures the epidemic could still turn fatal, opined doctors who attended the emergency meeting of the state and district branches of Indian Medical Association (IMA) at IMA Hall on Sunday.
Hygiene is the only way to keep away Dengue fever, but the Government and local administration are trying to save their faces by recommending Homeo preventive medicines which are not yet proved effective. IMA officials alleged that most of the patients hospitalised with viral fever had taken these medicines.
The meeting evaluated the efforts of IMA in controlling viral fever, Dengue fever and Leptospirosis in the state. Meanwhile a meeting presided over by District Collector Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday has decided to conduct meets to evaluate preventive measures taken against viral fever at the district, taluk and block levels. These meetings will analyse the measures taken by health officials.
District Medical Officers of Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homeo, Mass Media Officer and District Information Officer will attend the meetings at the district level. Steps to eradicate mosquitoes and rats in the district will also be recommended. The authorities will seek the cooperation of the public in this venture and ask the officials of schools, colleges, Government agencies and hospitals to keep their surrounding clean.
As the mosquitoes that cause Dengue fever cannot fly beyond 300 meters, the authorities are planning to spray pesticides all over the district simultaneously. The public will be asked to destroy coconut shells and tyres lying abandoned near the house as they breed mosquitoes. The high level committee headed by the District Collector will monitor the control measures.
Viral fever could create havoc in Kerala, say doctors
KOCHI: Viral fever is now under control in the State, but if the Government fails to take up preventive measures the epidemic could still turn fatal, opined doctors who attended the emergency meeting of the state and district branches of Indian Medical Association (IMA) at IMA hall on Sunday.
Hygiene is the only way to keep away Dengue fever, but the Government and local administration are trying to save their faces by recommending Homeo preventive medicines, which are not yet proved effective.
IMA officials alleged that most of the patients hospitalised with viral fever had taken this medicines.
The meeting evaluated the efforts of IMA in controlling viral fever, dengue fever and leptospirosis in the State. IMA had started Control Cells in every districts and 24-hour Fever Clinics in all hospitals.
It had formulated a treatment policy, referring patients to speciality hospitals if necessary, conducting survey in Government and private hospitals to get the exact statistics, visiting places of epidemics and recommending hygienic measures and conducting awareness camps for the public have been some of the programmes of IMA.
Meanwhile, a meeting presided over by District Collector Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday decided to conduct evaluation meetings on the preventive measures against viral fever every day in district, taluk and block levels.
These meetings will analyse the measures taken by health officials and will recommend new each day's works.
District Medical Officers of Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homeo, Mass Media Officer and District Information Officer will attend the meetings in the district level.
Authorities will also take steps to eradicate mosquitoes and rats in the district. They will seek the co-operation of the public in this venture and ask the officials of schools, colleges, Government agencies and hospitals to keep their surrounding clean to destroy rats and mosquitoes.
Panchayat will buy the sprayers and medicines needed to eradicate mosquitoes.
As the mosquitoes that cause Dengue fever cannot fly beyond 300 meters, the authorities are planning to spray medicines simultaneously in the district.
Health officials also pointed out that Kothamangalam area need to be given more attention as the highest number of cases have been reported from there.
The public will be asked to destroy coconut shells and tyres lying abandoned near the house as they breed mosquitoes.
The high level committee headed by the Collector will monitor the control measures. District Panchayat President K B Muhammadkutty master, Additional District Magistrate Johnson K George, DMOs, RDOs and Tahsildars attended the meeting.
Fever claims one more life
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 11. A 17-year-old girl died due to viral fever complications at the Medical College here on Friday, even as 13 more patients were confirmed to carry dengue infections in serological examination.
According to district health officials, the victim, Serena, who had been under treatment for undiagnosed fever for nearly a month, hailed from Kaniyapuram.
A new case of leptospirosis was also confirmed in a 48-year-old patient from the Nemom area while a new case of malaria was reported from Vanchiyoor in the city.
With the latest casualty, the number of viral fever deaths in the district has risen to 23. Apart from this, there have been nine deaths due to dengue fever and two due to leptospirosis.
Tests on serological samples of fever patients, which were received at the District Medical Office, were found to be positive in 13 more cases. At least 1,571 viral fever admissions were registered at health institutions across the district on Friday.
Meanwhile, the district administration is formulating an action plan to launch a one-day massive cleanliness drive throughout the district on July 25 as part of measures to combat infectious diseases.
The District Collector, E. Ayyappan, informed in an official release that the cleanliness campaign would be launched at the municipality/grama panchayat ward levels. An awareness drive would also be dovetailed into the cleanliness campaign.
Dengue: MCH blood bank under strain
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 11. The Blood Bank at the Medical College Hospital here is hard put to provide adequate units of blood platelets to the scores of dengue fever patients being admitted over the past one month.
There has been a steady demand for platelet replacements from the SAT Hospital to prevent child patients from developing Dengue Shock Syndrome or Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.
The Blood Bank had stepped up its collection rate from voluntary donors from the normal average of between 80 to 100 units a day to nearly 150 units. On a single day, the bank had been catering to platelet requests of 10 patients and more, sources said.
The blood bank has been using a refrigerated centrifuge to segregate platelets, red cells and plasma from whole blood. Acutely ill dengue patients require constant transfusion of platelets to offset potentially fatal haemorrhages.
It is estimated that on an average an episode of transfusion from a single donor can boost platelet counts in the recipients by between 5,000 to 10,000 units. Often, children with drastic platelet reduction would require segregated components from more than one donor, experts say.
It is also pointed out that of the major blood components, platelets have the least shelf-life (roughly three days), whereas red cells can be preserved for up to 42 days. Plasma, on the other hand, has a shelf life of several years.
According to sources, whole blood transfusions are now warranted only in cases of major loss of blood in road traffic accidents, obstetric complications or a major surgery.
It's viral infection, say Govt. doctors
By Our Staff Reporter
KOZHIKODE JULY 10. The Kozhikode branch of the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA), at a meeting of Government doctors in the district here on July 9, has opined that the prevailing infectious fever in the district had been diagnosed as `influenza viral fever'.
The doctors, who evaluated the measures initiated to combat the infection, expressed the view that it was the sudden changes in climate which had brought about the malady.
The president, N.Haridas, and the secretary, Appunny, in a statement pointed out that preventive measures initiated had been highly effective in combating Weils's disease (rat fever) this year.
If adequate preventive measures were taken, it would be possible to check the spread of the prevailing fever too next year, it added.
17 more dengue cases
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 10 . Seventeen new cases of confirmed dengue fever were reported at various hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram city and suburbs on Wednesday.
According to officials, the extraordinary feature was the confirmation of dengue infection in 10 adults at a private hospital in the city. This is the first time since the dengue outbreak that the admission of adults has outnumbered child patients, who are most vulnerable to the mosquito-transmitted disease.
Of the new cases, eight were reported from various Corporation wards and one each from Pangappara, Poonthura, Nedumangad, Vilappil, Manamboor, Peringadavila, Kallara and two from Nemom.
So far, at least 74 of the 215 confirmed dengue cases have been reported from the Corporation precincts.
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Neem oil effective against Weil's disease?
By Our Staff Reporter
KOTTAYAM July 9. Even as public health authorities and modern medicine practitioners are struggling hard to control the outbreak of Leptospirosis in many parts of the State, the Leptospirosis Institute of Kerala here has come up with a simple and low cost preventive - Neem Oil.
According to Dr. Punnen Kurian, principal investigator, and Manuel Thomas, research scholar, their research into the issue has found that those who work in waterlogged areas, the most prone to Weil's Disease, can effectively prevent the portal entry of leptospira by covering the entire body surface with one layer of neem oil just before starting work.
According to them, a total of 60 regular workers of canals, paddyfields and sand-mining on rivers were provided with locally available neem oil after assessing its quality using standard procedures. They had ensured that oiling was done every day just before they started the day's work. The entire body surface, including areas of cuts and bruises, was covered with one layer of oil. All other regular workers of the area were considered as `control' group and ensured that they were not taking any such preventive measures. The study was continued for a period of one month during May-June period.
No leptospirosis case was reported from the treated group. But two cases were reported from the same area to the Kottayam medical College hospital which were serologically confirmed and one of them died. Water samples taken from the area also proved that they contained leptospires at moderate level. Three species of rats were captured from the area and 35 per cent of their samples were found serologically positive.
According to Dr Kurian, neem oil may form an impermeable layer on skin that prevents the portal entry of the bacteria. The high viscosity, density and surface tension of the oil helps to keep the film on skin intact for a longer duration. The anti-bacterial property of neem oil is well established and it is effective against leptospira too. Anti-bacterial constituents like nimbidines and mahmoodin have been isolated from the oil. Moreover, the neem oil, while it mixes with water even in lower concentrations becomes acidic and it may turn leptospiricidal. Leptospira is very sensitive to pH changes and acidic pH below 6.0 is leptospiricidal.
They pointed out that the only effective way to control Weil's disease was through taking up vigorous campaigns to eliminate rats. This should have been done by the local bodies with popular participation. However, the local bodies and authorities have miserably failed in this endeavour and the poorer sections of the people, who are most prone to rat fever can take care of themselves through this cheap method. Neem oil is cheap, easily available and inspite of the unpleasant odour, acceptable to the local community as a traditional commodity used in ayurvedic treatments. As such it can be recommended for wider use, they said.
Epidemic-control drive on
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 9. The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, said here today that the Treasury ban was hampering the epidemic control drive taken up by local bodies.
Inaugurating an intensified epidemic prevention programme launched by the City Corporation, he said the Treasury ban had emerged as a major impediment to local bodies and hospitals in utilising Rs.2.5 crores sanctioned by the Government to handle the epidemic threat.
Expressing concern over the epidemic outbreak, which had claimed over 300 lives, he stressed the need for people's participation in sanitation and vector-control activities.
He called upon local bodies to coordinate their efforts with the Government, elected representatives and the general public.
The long- term programme launched by the Corporation is aimed at total eradication of epidemics in the city by the year 2007. Ward-level committees headed by councillors will be constituted to coordinate health and sanitation activities. The committees will have their own funds.
Monitoring cells will also be set up in the hospitals under the Corporation to tackle epidemic outbreaks and take up awareness campaigns. The Corporation will supply medicines to the hospitals.
17 more dengue cases
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 9 . At least 17 new cases of confirmed dengue fever were reported at various hospitals in the city and suburbs on Wednesday.
According to officials, the extraordinary feature was the confirmation of dengue infection in 10 adults at a private hospital in the city. This is the first time since the dengue outbreak that the admission of adults has outnumbered child patients, who are most vulnerable to the mosquito-transmitted disease.
Of the new cases, eight were reported from various Corporation wards and one each from Pangappara, Poonthura, Nedumangad, Vilappil, Manamboor, Peringadavila, Kallara and two from Nemom.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, has convened a review meeting on Friday with District Medical Officers, Medical College professors and a cross-section of Health officials to assess the dengue threat and effectiveness of preventive measures undertaken so far.
Viral fever deaths mount to 24
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 8. The total number of viral fever-related deaths in the district mounted to 24 with six more patients, including two children, succumbing to acute fever complications at the Medical College and SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
The child victims, Sharath (three-and-a-half years) and Selvian (two-and-a-half) were referred to the SAT from Amboori and Adimalattura respectively.
While three adult patients died during emergency care at the Medical College, another person with a fever spiral was brought dead to the hospital, officials said.
The pathological cause of the adult deaths is yet to be determined.
There have been nine dengue deaths and two death due to leptospirosis in the district so far.
Meanwhile, various health care institutions in the district reported an estimated 2,867 viral fever cases on Monday, sources said.
Dengue infection was confirmed in three new patients, including two women in the city and suburbs.
Besides a 22-year- old male patient from Attoor, a 39-year-old woman patient from Vattappara and a 30-year-old patient from Peroorkada, have been admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
State seeks Central aid to support HIV victims
By Our Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 8. The Health Minister, P. Sankaran, has said that the State Government has approached the Centre and the National AIDS Control Society for funds to offer financial support to HIV victims. Addressing a function in connection with the release of the biennial report of the State Management Agency (SMA) here today, Mr. Sankaran said that it was not enough to tackle AIDS at a preventive level and emphasis should be given in generating awareness about the disease.
He said the Government had prepared a programme of action to tackle dengue fever. This included conducting awareness campaigns, fogging in each ward of all panchayats, launching of special squads to carry out door-to-door campaigns in sanitation in the panchayats. He said the Government proposed to convene a meeting of District Collectors to decide on the implementation of the programme.
The Health Secretary, K. Ramamurthy, said that AIDS control activities in the State had failed to address the issue in totality and that it was necessary to redraft the entire intervention strategy. He said the scope for Government intervention was limited to providing guidelines. However, non-governmental organisations had an important role in spreading the concept of partnership in sexual health because they could reach out to the targeted people.
Along with AIDS control and awareness activities, the State would soon have to address allied issues like discrimination of HIV victims. He said the Government proposed to distribute 20 lakh condoms free through petrol bunks. M.N. Gunavardhanan, Additional Secretary, Health and project director of the Kerala State AIDS Control Society, (KSACS), said that AIDS had become a vicious circle and a more comprehensive programmes were required to tackle the issue.
Mr. Babu Joseph, president of the Partners Forum, a group of NGOs working in the field of AIDS control, called for a mass movement against AIDS. He said that the magnitude of the disease was such that there should be a definite shift in strategies. At present, AIDS control activities were aimed at the target groups. Kerala had achieved its unique record in family welfare through a mass movement. A similar movement was required in AIDS control, he added.
DMO flays private hospitals over fever statistics
KOCHI: How many people in the district have been affected by Dengue fever and Leptospirosis heat that have gripped the district for the last two months? Health officials put the figure somewhere around 120 and 103 in both cases, adding that the statistics is not complete.
But the data available from the private laboratories around the city tell a different story. And the office of the District Medical Officer feels that the private hospitals are not co-operating with the campaign of the Government officials to control the outbreak of Dengue fever and Leptospirosis in the district.
‘‘What can we do? Majority of the private hospitals never bother to report all the cases of fever admitted there even though we keep reminding them,’’ says Dr Sumathy, District Medical Officer (DMO).
Dr Sumathy points out that not one of the private hospitals reported the cases on Sunday even when the DMO office has a 24-hour cell functioning exclusively to handle these cases and collect the number of patients.
But the private hospitals maintain that they keep informing the DMO’s office every day. ‘‘We report the cases before 2 p.m. every day with complete address of the patients,’’ say the officials of Medical Trust hospital, where 106 people came for treatment for viral fever. Most of the cases that are tested at the private labs in city are referred from private hospitals in and around the district. Out of the 216 cases tested at the Medivision Laboratory, 90 were tested positive for Dengue fever. And, of the 171 samples which came for testing, 22 were tested positive for Leptospirosis.
And the story is more or less the same in other labs, making clear that the district health officials are losing much information regarding the number of patients undergoing treatment for these complicated varieties of fever. ‘‘We get data from the primary health centres which give us statistics from their areas and that is our main source.
Apart from direct information from hospitals we rely on the reports from the health centres in primary and block levels,’’ says Dr Krishnankutty, Deputy DMO. But he adds that some information could be missed in their data.
Meanwhile two new cases of Dengue fever have been reported today from the district. ‘‘Private hospitals are laying emphasis on treatment and not prevention of these diseases. Even though we gave a class on preventive measures to the public relations officers of all the hospitals before the monsoon season, nothing has come up,’’ said the DMO.
Municipality to battle epidemics
TRIPUNITHURA: The Tripunithura municipality will start distributing preventive medicines and start implementing precautionary measures to curb the rising cases of epidemics.
Free medicines will be distributed from various centers like Eroor Homoeopathic Clinic and other Primary Health Centres from Monday onwards. Social organisations are also actively taking part in the campaign. The Tripunithuram Merchants' Union unit donated medicines worth Rs 10,000 to the Taluk Hospital on Saturday.
The medicines include costly life-saving drugs. "We will continue the supply of medicines till these epidemics are eradicated from the area," said A M Raju, unit president of Merchants Union.
The students and staff of the Government Ayurveda College had already started distributing medicine kits containing traditional remedies against viral fever and dengue fever. They had also conducted several health camps at the thirty-two wards in the municipality. Meanwhile five cases of dengue fever were confirmed in the municipal area and the affected people are presently undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
Dengue fever is caused by a unique variety of mosquitoes which are active during daytime especially in the evenings. The students and staff of the Ayurveda college are also engaged in an awareness campaign to help the locals contain these disease causing mosquitoes with a unique medicinal smoke.
"Clean surroundings and hygiene are very important to contain the spread of these disease causing mosquitoes," says Dr Murali, RMO, Government Ayurveda College.
Three new cases of dengue fever in city
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 6. At least three new cases of dengue fever and two cases of confirmed Leptospirosis were reported in the city on Sunday.
According to officials, the dengue cases were reported from Goureesapattom, Thycaud and Kottapuram.
The Leptospirosis cases, referred from Pangappara and Arattukuzhi, were admitted to the Medical College Hospital.
Dengue has so far claimed nine lives in the district and Leptospirosis two while there have been 18 deaths due to viral fever complications.
Saturday, July 05, 2003
Central team hints at another epidemics outbreak
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A three-member team from the Central Health Ministry which was here to take stock of the epidemic outbreak in the State said that another outbreak could not be ruled out as the vector density was still very high.
"As far as the Dengue fever is concerned, death is almost a certainty in the case of those getting infected for the second time," said the team at a news conference.
Health Minister P Sankaran, who also attended the news conference, said that the Central team appreciated the Government's initiatives in tackling the threat posed by epidemics in the State.
He said that only 30 new posts had been created in the Health Services since 1961 and this had affected the quality of the service.
Considering the gravity of the issue, the Government had initiated several corrective steps in this regard, he said. The decision to appoint doctors on contract basis was one such step, he added.
More hospitalised with dengue fever
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 5. Ten new cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in the district on Saturday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the district so far to 185.
Except for one case at the SAT hospital, all other confirmed cases have been admitted to the Medical College hospital.
Also, nine persons were newly admitted to hospitals here on Saturday of suspected dengue fever. One new case of malaria has also been reported from Poovar.
The number of persons with fever and related complaints who reported at the outpatient clinics at the primary health centres in the district today stood at 1,825.
The confirmed cases of dengue fever have been reported from Kumarapuram, Peroorkada, Thozhuvancode, Mukkola, Vattiyoorkavu, Poonthura, Manacaud, all within the Corporation limits and from Murukkumpuzha, Ottasekharamangalam and Kottukal.
So far, 11 cases of leptospirosis, one case of cholera, two cases of typhoid and 90 cases of malaria have been reported in the district. Of the 185 cases of dengue fever, 144 cases are of children below 12 years and 41 of children above 12 years.
A review meeting of medical officers in the district was held on Saturday to assess the situation and the sanitation work being undertaken in various wards.
The District Medical Officer, E. K. Madhavan, said that as dengue cases were still being reported in the district, it could not be said that the epidemic was on the decline.
Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association has warned of serious consequences unless preventive measures are initiated on a war footing against the string of epidemics that has gripped the State.
When dengue fever can be contained to a large extent through mosquito-control programmes, the fact that the disease has spread shows the ineffectiveness of the vector control programmes, the IMA said in a statement here.
The Health department and the local governing bodies were to be equally blamed for the spread of dengue epidemic, for though it has been six weeks since dengue began to be reported, vector-control programmes have not been launched comprehensively, it said.
Faster, cheaper rat fever test to be put on trial
KOZHIKODE: The Gwalior-based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) will soon conduct a large-scale clinical trial of a new antigen detection system for the early diagnosis of Leptospirosis (rat fever) at the Medical College Hospital here.
A demonstration of the new system was held in a private hospital here a few months back. If successful, the system would be a major breakthrough in tackling the killer disease, which has become a major threat in Kerala. Laboratory tests and evaluations of the new technique have been successful, sources said.
World Health Organisation’s consultant for Leptospirosis Dr Harshavardhan Batra, who developed the antigen detection method, will lead a team of scientists for the clinical experiment. Batra is also the Joint Director of the DRDE, a research institute under the Defence Ministry.
The new antigen detection kit would do away with all the shortcomings of the methods used at present, sources said. It is claimed that under the new method Leptospirosis could be diagnosed on the same day a person gets infected with the disease and the result would be available within two hours. The test would cost less than Rs 50.
A major obstacle in the treatment of Leptospirosis at present is the delay in confirming the disease. The diagnostic methods followed now, have several drawbacks, including the chances for false reports, according to experts.
Dark-field Microscopic Test, an antigen detection method, requires high-level of skills for the laboratory technicians. Besides, the yield would be very low.
Another detection method, the Polymerace Chain Reaction Test is costly, as a single test will cost Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500.
Culturing the serum is another method. It would take one to six weeks to get the results due to the slow growth of the leptospira in the culture media. This test is also costly.
Hence, hospitals depend on IgM Elisa Test, an anti-body diagnosis method. However, this test is possible only after the patient develops the anti-body, which normally takes one to two weeks after the patient shows symptoms of the disease.
Fever incidence under control, claims Sankaran
By Our Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 4. The Health Minister, P. Sankaran, and Secretary (Health), K. Ramamoorthy, claimed on Friday that the upsurge in fever cases in the State had plateaued out. The situation was under control and the incidence was expected to come down in the coming days.
Addressing a press conference here, they said that as many as 34 persons had died of dengue fever and 32 of leptospirosis this year. Besides, two died of typhoid and one of malaria. Of those died of dengue fever, 28 persons had died in June. They admitted that some deaths might not have been reported. (The unofficial count is about 200).
The Minister said that the larger number of cases had been reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The experts from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, R. C. Sharma, V. K. Raina and U. V. S. Rana, had toured three districts and their report was awaited.
The experts, who were present at the press conference, said that the dengue fever would be most harmful if a person caught it the second time. Hence, a second outbreak in Kerala could be very dangerous. Rubber plantations were found to be the biggest breeding ground of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, which spread the disease, with mosquitoes breeding in the coconut shells used for collecting latex.
Tests conducted last time, they said, had shown that about 50 per cent of the cattle in affected areas carried viruses causing leptospirosis, besides rodents. Steps should be taken to collect urine of cattle in pits to prevent viruses from reaching water sources and surface soil. Early diagnosis and treatment could save many patients.
The Minister denied that patients were not getting proper treatment at the Medical Colleges and other Government hospitals. There had not been any shortage of blood at the Medical College here. Anticipating the need for more bloods, requests had been made to the Regional Cancer Centre and the Sree Chitra Medical Centre here.
Steps had been taken to appoint doctors on contract basis and fill up vacant posts. Promotions and posting had also been speeded up. Noting that there was shortage of doctors, the Minister said that the period for which Government doctors could go on leave had been reduced from 20 years to 10 years. Government service by doctors passing out from Medical Colleges would be made mandatory.
He said that the Government proposed several long-term measures to improve sanitation in the State. Waste management facilities would be taken up in each panchayat. Proper maintenance of drainages, roads and market places and supply of adequate drinking water would be ensured. As short-term measures, source reduction, fogging, spraying and other vector control activities had been started. Local Self-Government (LSG) leaders were to supervise vector control and public awareness campaigns. About ten per cent of the budgets of LSGs were to be earned for public health activities.
He said that several clinics had been started in medical colleges and Government hospitals. Medical camps were being conducted in problem areas. Medicines needed for the next two weeks had been stocked. Committees had been formed with district collector as chairman to monitor disease control activities.
Youth dies of suspected dengue fever in MCH
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 4. A 30-year-old youth hailing from Kattakkada died due to viral fever complications at the Medical College here today.
According to hospital sources, the youth, Aji Kumar, had been admitted to the hospital on Thursday and died this morning due to gastrointestinal bleeding brought on by a suspected dengue attack.
Though the death has not been serologically confirmed as being due to dengue fever, the nature of death had a striking resemblance to a dengue-triggered fatality, hospital sources said.
Meanwhile, seven new cases of confirmed dengue were reported today with at least four of them from the Corporation area. Four of the patients, all children, were admitted to the SAT Hospital, two to the General Hospital and one to a private hospital.
The dengue cases were reported from Karamana, Pattoor, Karakkamandapam, Poonthura, Pangappara, Kachani and Kallara. One case of malaria has also been confirmed in a 26-year-old youth from the Thonnackal Primary Health Centre.
According to the District Medical Officer, the highest number of concentration of dengue positive cases has been in the Corporation area, with 56 cases being reported from various wards in the city.
The number of total confirmed dengue cases for the entire district currently stands at 175. Children have borne the brunt of the mosquito-transmitted infection with an estimated 126 children being treated at the SAT Hospital alone.
The health squads of the City Corporation today conducted medical camps in the Sasthamangalam and Kanjirampara wards and undertook house-to-house visits to spread awareness on preventing infectious diseases.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) district secretary, M. Vijayakumar, has alleged that the Government was slack in launching preventive measures to check the spread of infectious diseases in spite of diseases like dengue and leptospirosis taking a heavy toll of children and adults across the State.
The CPI(M) leader said that shortage of staff and medicines persisted at Government hospitals. The party would stage a dharna involving representatives of the Corporation, municipality, district panchayat, block and grama panchayats, in front of the University college from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday in protest against the allegedly lax response of the Government to the serious situation, the statement said.
Kerala disputes death toll due to dengue fever
IANS
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government on Friday disputed reports putting fatalities in the state due to dengue fever at over 150, and said the disease had claimed only 34 lives in the last six months.
Kerala Health Minister P. Sankaran told a news conference here that 28 deaths were reported last month, the largest number in a single month since January.
"Leptospirosis has also accounted for 32 deaths in the past six months and the total deaths including in private hospitals is 99," said Sankaran, who was flanked by three doctors from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Delhi.
He said that the state health department was working overtime and had started fever clinics at six medical colleges, district hospitals and block hospitals.
"We have spent close to Rs.20 million for purchase of medicines to tackle this," he said.
In sharp contrast to the government's figures, media reports have indicated that there has been a drastic increase in people arriving at hospitals across the state with fever over the last 10 days.
These reports have put deaths due to dengue fever alone at over 150.
State health secretary K. Ramamoorthy disputed this figure and said the exaggeration is due to clubbing of deaths due to other forms of fever with dengue cases.
"We have now asked even private hospitals to report the actual admission of patients identified with dengue fever and also other deaths," said Ramamoorthy.
U.V.S. Rana of NICD said the Kerala government was doing a "great job" of educating people and helping them face the outbreak of dengue fever. Rana, however, admitted that there was a shortage of facilities in hospitals for clinical examination.
"As per the World Health Organisation guidelines, in case of epidemics, tests need be done for five percent cases, while treatment is given to all patients suspected of having the disease," said Rana.
Sankaran noted the state was facing a severe shortage of doctors in government hospitals and only 41 new posts for doctors had been created since 1961.
"We have been conducting walk-in interviews for doctors to meet any case of urgency. Fifteen doctors were selected today," he said.
Eight new dengue cases reported from city
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 3. Dengue infection has intruded into the heart of the city on Thursday with at least four of the eight new admissions of confirmed dengue cases being reported from the Corporation precincts.
Four children with confirmed dengue cases hail from the Medical College, Manacaud, Pettah and Ambalathara areas. Three other children with confirmed cases are from Nedumangad, Balaramapuram and Kachani, and a 40-year-old patient from Venganoor was also admitted with dengue fever to a private hospital.
Of the child patients, three are under treatment at the SAT Hospital, two at the Women and Children's Hospital and two in private hospitals.
Meanwhile, an 11-year-old girl from Nalanchira has been admitted to the SAT Hospital with confirmed leptospirosis. According to the District Medical Officer, there were more than 4,053 viral fever admissions at health centres in the district.
Epidemic control drive on: Health squads of the Corporation are fanning out across the city to intensify the epidemic control programme taken up by the local body. The squads have started house-to-house visits to spread awareness on various diseases and methods to prevent them. Neighbourhood meetings and distribution of medicines are also progressing.
Two medical teams deputed by the Ayurveda Medical Education Directorate today visited the Chengalchoola colony in the Secretariat ward and Lenin Nagar in the Palayam ward. They distributed water purifying agents, preventive medicines and mosquito repellents.
The Health standing committee chairman, K.C. Vikraman, the working group chairman, Attipra Asokan, ward councillors and officials led the campaign. A release issued here today said the campaign would cover the Sasthamangalam and Kanhirampara wards on Friday. A meeting of Ayurveda, Allopathic and Homoeopathic medical officers will be convened to review the progress of the drive.
Top medical team lands in Kochi to study fever outbreak
KOCHI: A high-level team of medical experts landed here on Tuesday to collect details regarding fever outbreak in the district.
The team which includes Dr U V S Rana, Dr S K Jain and Dr V K Reina, Joint Directors of National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), met district health officials and visited areas from where cases of fever have been reported in the last few days.
Meanwhile, two new cases of dengue fever were reported from the district on Tuesday. Anand Ram Sharon of Kakkanad and Ammini Amma from Kalady were diagnosed to be suffering from dengue fever and are undergoing special medical treatment. District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr V K Sumathi called a a meeting of district-level programme officers to evaluate measures to control fever.
And to tackle the issue, health officials have directed hospital development committees to buy medicines for the treatment of viral fever. A technician has been appointed at the Public Health Lab to test blood samples.
The Cochin Corporation has intensified measures to control the spread of fever with awareness campaigns and mosquito eradication programmes.
The Ayurveda and Homoeopathy departments are also taking active part in the campaign by distributing medicines to prevent fever. Camps have been opened at various Ayurveda hospitals to give medicines and treat fever cases.
Outbreak of epidemics: Corporation chalks out preventive measures
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has chalked out various preventive programmes against communicable diseases.
A meeting was convened on Monday at the Corporation lounge for discussing the urgent measures taken for preventing dengue fever and other diseases.
Mayor J.Chandra, who inaugurated the meeting, said that five workers each had been assigned on a daily-wage basis to clean open drains in the wards. These workers were in addition to the regular workforce of the Corporation. She said that tipper lorries were also provided for the speedy removal of waste accumulated in the drains.
The Mayor said that power spraying machines had been provided to health committees to eradicate mosquitoes. A worker each had been provided to each ward to use hand sprayer in individual households as part of the programme.
Extra power sprayers would be provided for eradicating mosquitoes from larger water bodies, she said.
Chandra said that fogging would be resumed in the city soon.
She recalled that fogging was stopped earlier following complaints that it increased the tendency for respiratory diseases.
Measures had been taken to remove waste materials from collection points and councillors had been asked to oversee the removal of waste.
The Corporation had allotted a vehicle to Manacaud market for collecting waste of meat. Stringent measures would be taken against dumping of waste by the roadside. Health inspectors and junior health inspectors would be assigned to monitor the situation.
Health standing committee chairman K.C.Vikraman said that medicines for fever had been made available at the primary health centres of the Corporation.
He said that ward-level committees would be constituted to curb the dumping of waste on the roads and to oversee the health sanitation measures.
The councillor and the health inspector would be the chairman and the convener of the committee. He said that litter-free zone programmes would be spread to all wards in the city. The meeting was also addressed by ayurveda and allopathy medical practitioners.
Dr Jyothilal of Government Ayurveda College said that special teams had been constituted to visit those areas from where fever cases had been reported.
The hospital had also been distributing medicines for improving the overall health status of people, he said.
Dengue fever: 9,337 hospitalised
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister P.Sanakaran on Tuesday said that so far 9,337 persons affected by dengue and viral fever had been admitted to various hospitals in the State.
He was inaugurating the distribution of the State-level awards for best doctors for 2000 and 2002 on the Doctor’s Day at the Kanakakkunnu Palace here.
The Minister appealed to the doctors and the public to be vigilant and active in checking the spread of epidemics.
The Health Department had already spent Rs 5.35 crore to control the diseases and sought Central and WHO aid.
Sankaran presented the awards to eleven best performing doctors in different fields.
They were Dr.K Jyothindrakumar, Dr.N.Subramania Iyer, Dr.Fazil Marickar, Dr.Charles.J.Mandi and Dr.N.N.Asokan (for year 2000) and Dr.V.Rajan, Dr.T.U.Sukumaran, Dr.K.Rajukumar, Dr.V.V.Radhakriahnan, Dr.R.Rajendran, Dr.V.Bharathan (for year 2002).
Dengue fever: 66 admitted to various district hospitals
KOZHIKODE: As many as 66 persons were admitted to various hospitals in the district on Tuesday following acute fever, said an official release.
Among them, three are suffering from dengue fever. However, no rat fever case was reported from the district on Tuesday.
Around 28 persons were admitted to the Government Hospital in Vadakara alone. Ten others were admitted to Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), here.
Eight persons are undergoing treatment at the Government District Hospital at Beach, here.
Dengue incidence high in seven districts
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 2. An expert group, which met here on Wednesday to review the upsurge of Dengue fevers sweeping across the State, has concluded that the incidence of mosquito-transmitted disease was highest in seven districts.
According to the panel, the highest concentration of Dengue cases were in Thrissur, Kannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kozhikode.
According to statistics, 31 dengue-related deaths and 584 seriously diagnosed cases have been reported so far.
The alacrity of the Health services and Medical College teams in launching containment measures such as establishment of fever clinics, space spraying, fogging and intensive information, education and communication campaigns for propagation of personal protection measures was pointed out by the group.
The panel noted that though there might have been more variants of viruses and different serotypes, the epidemic was brought under rein and had started showing a declining trend. The panel recommended stepping up the IEC campaign to dispel apprehension and panic among the masses.
According to the experts, dengue fever is usually mild and required no special treatment other than with paracetamol, rest and fluid intake. Only a fraction of dengue patients develop Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). Dengue fever has been described as a non-specific fever like any common viral fever with muscular pain and body ache as associated features.
Specific advice to the people is not to use any antipyretic other than paracetamol, refer fever cases to the neighbourhood physician, and suspected DHF/DSS should be reached to a major hospital as soon as possible.
The only preventive measures available for mosquito control are the resort to personal protective methods such as use of net, ointments and other repellents besides cleaning the environment by eliminating mosquito breeding sources.
The panel meeting chaired by Health Secretary, K. Ramamoorthy, was represented by Rajamohan, SAT Superintendent, K. Sreekanthan, associate professor and head of infectious diseases, MCH, K. T. Shenoy, Head of Gastroenterology, MCH, Noel Narayanan, paediatric expert, A. Joesph, research director, KIMS, L. S. Valsala, Head of MCH PEID Cell, K. L. Sarada Devi, Regional Institute of Microbiology, A. Aysha Beegom officer on special duty, Health Services and S. P. Ravikumar, mass education officer.
Meanwhile, at least six fresh cases of confirmed Dengue, including a nine-month-old infant, and one case of Leptospirosis were reported in the city and suburbs on Wednesday.
Three children, including the nine-month-old child who hails from Vithura, have been hospitalised in the SAT, and two children have been admitted to a private hospital, while a 55-year-old adult patient is under treatment at the General Hospital.
The Leptospirosis case was reported at the Kesavapuram PHC in the district, officials said.
Intensified drive to control epidemic
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 30. The City Corporation is embarking on an intensified epidemic control programme from July 1.
The first phase of the integrated ward-level programme will be organised from July 1 to July 10, the Mayor, J. Chandra, said here today. She was inaugurating a meeting to review the activities under the action plan to combat the outbreak of dengue and viral fever.
The meeting decided to divide the 81 wards into three sectors and launch a grassroots level campaign for epidemic prevention and treatment. To monitor health and sanitation activities, a 30- member ward committee will be constituted with the councillor as chairman and the Health Inspector as convener. The committees will be formed before July 5.The campaign will integrate Allopathic, Ayurveda and Homoeopathy systems of medicine. All the Public Health Centres, Ayurveda dispensaries and Homoeo hospitals in the city limits will remain open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kudumbasree units and Area Development Societies will coordinate with Public Health Centres and dispensaries to convene neighbourhood meetings to create awareness about the epidemic threat.
The 23 Mother and Child Welfare Centres under the Corporation will function from morning to evening under Junior Public Health nurses. Mike announcements will also be organised in all the 81 wards.
The meeting decided to ensure daily removal of garbage from collection points. Vector control activities will also be stepped up. Household-level larvicide spraying will be supplemented with power spraying and hand fogging.
The Corporation has directed hotels to avoid dumping animal wastes by the roadsides. They have been instructed to take animal wastes to the Manacaud dumping site between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The local body has procured sufficient stocks of medicines for distribution.
The chairman of the Health Standing Committee, K.C. Vikraman, presided over the meeting. The health and sanitation working group chairman, Attipra Asokan, the Health Officer, L. Jayalakshmy, councillors and Corporation officials, medical officers of PHCs and hospitals, community organisers and health workers participated in the meeting.
Seven new dengue cases in city
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 30. At least seven new confirmed cases of dengue were reported in the city and suburban panchayats on Monday.
While five patients, including four girls, from Kannanmoola, Vembayam, Manamboor, Kallara and Povatthur, were admitted to the SAT Hospital, two adult patients from the Palode and Amboori areas were hospitalised at the Medical College Hospital (MCH).
As part of the Health Department's preventive campaign against vector-borne diseases, children at the Naduveli Government School in Vembayam, undertook a pledge to contribute to personal and environmental cleanliness at their school and home to ward off infectious diseases.
The District Collector, E. Ayyappan, the district panchayat president, Sasikala Sivasankar, the District Medical Officer, E. K. Madhavan, and the panchayat member, Anil Kumar, were among those present. Similar pledges will be administered at school assemblies at all educational institutions in the district.
Health promotion teams have been constituted at ward-levels to carry out vector control measures primarily by focusing on cutting off breeding sites for the mosquitoes by maintaining environmental hygiene. Besides respective ward members, the involvement of junior public health nurses and `ayalkoottams' would be enlisted for the sustained campaign. Each team has been assigned to visit 250 houses.
Later, the Collector chaired a meeting of panchayat officials to review the dengue threat in the district and to decide on further course of action.
A special meeting of grama panchayat heads is scheduled for the second week of July to review the effects of the measures taken so far and to strengthen preventive measures.
