State braces for yet another season of infectious diseases
High-level meet reviews public health activities being taken up by districts. All depts. told to undertake pre-monsoon works in a coordinated manner as a spike in diseases is expected
Kerala is bracing for yet another season when infectious diseases are expected to peak and any slackening in adoption of precautions can lead to loss of lives, according to Health Minister Veena George.
In a statement here on Friday following a high-level meeting of Health department ocials, Ms. George said all departments had to undertake measures for the upcoming monsoon season in a coordinated manner as the intense heatwave and the summer showers that followed could possibly lead to an unusual spike in all infectious diseases in the next few months.
All local bodies have to take up sanitation activities in a sustained manner. Sanitation of public places and hostels should be ensured utilising the provisions in the Kerala Public Health Act of 2023. All wells and other drinking water sources should be chlorinated. Food safety checks should be intensied and water sources in schools should be checked.
Fever clinics will be started in all hospitals and all treatment protocols put in place. Beds should be set aside in isolation wards. Hospitals should check their drug stock and take measures for replenishing the stock as soon as the drug stocks dip to 30%.
Ms. George said any non-compliance with the directions issued by the Health department in keeping premises and public water sources clean will be dealt under the Public Health Act.
Convalescent period
The Minister said secondary infections were being reported in many who contracted hepatitis A, which could turn dangerous. Those who are aected by hepatitis should necessarily take rest for six weeks and follow the health advisory issued by public health ocials. All districts have been put on vigil against dengue and leptospirosis. It should be ensured that all those who reach hospitals are being provided adequate care.
The public health activities being taken up by districts were reviewed at the meeting. Hepatitis A outbreaks have been reported in large numbers from many districts, including Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kannur, Pathanamthitta and Palakkad, where the infection has been traced to the contamination of drinking water sources. Chlorination of wells and other drinking water sources are being carried out on a war footing.
Ms. George said public health experts had warned that dengue fever cases could intensify by July and, hence, dengue hotspots should be identied early. Vector-control measures, especially source reduction, should be taken up in a sustained manner by local bodies. The public should also be on the alert against leptospirosis, which has a high mortality rate.
An ocean to discuss
Naval o icers participating in the second edition of the India-Australia-Indonesia Trilateral Maritime Security Workshop at INS Dronacharya in Kochi on Friday. The workshop's theme is Indian Ocean Region: Collaborative E orts to Enhance Regional Maritime Security.