Central team to visit fever-hit areas, says Minister

Thursday, September 22, 2011: In the view of the recent outbreak of contagious diseases in the State, State Health Minister Adoor Prakash informed that a Central team of doctors would visit the fever hit areas.

Speaking to the reporters after the high level meeting held here on Thursday, Minister added that the team would reach Kerala today.

The district medical officers have been allotted with Rs 2 lakh each for taking preventive measures to curb the recent outbreak of fever.

Dengue has the symptoms of sudden high fever and severe headache, pain behind the eyes and nausea.

The Health Services director has warned against washing and bathing in murky waters and has instructed the use of gloves and socks for animal caretakers and agricultural workers to prevent the spread of rat fever.

They have also been directed to take a weekly preventive medicine, which is available at the primary health centres, free of cost. The symptoms of rat fever are high fever, headache, body ache, red eyes and muscle cramps.

The preventive measures aimed at mosquito control include destruction of mosquito breeding spots such as broken vessels, bottles, coconut shells, tyre, garden pots, sheaths of plants, hollows of trees and even the coconut shells used for collecting rubber latex, which will collect water in them.

To prevent the spread of epidemics, patients are advised to use handkerchiefs while coughing and sneezing.

State Epidemiologist Dr Sukumaran has been entrusted with the job of co-ordinating and monitoring the special healthcare activities in various districts. All government hospitals, including the primary health centres, have been asked to replenish their stock of medicines including anti-biotics to tackle the situation.

Facilities for dialysis have been strengthened in Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Most of the fever cases were reported from northern districts of Kasargode, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad. Cases of dengue, hepatitis and gastro-enteritis have also been reported from Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.