Kerala - Alappuzha   

Chikungunya: Alappuzha district out of danger

Staff Reporter

District should be cautious about dengue: Central team

ALAPPUZHA: The high-level team deputed by the Union Government to study the incidence of chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases in the State on Thursday said Alappuzha was out of danger as far as chikungunya was concerned. The region, which reported over 100 cases of chikungunya last year, however, had to be cautious about the possibilities of dengue fever and Dengue Haemorrhage Fever (DHF).

Addressing a press conference after five groups under the team wound up their visit here on Thursday evening, National Institute of Communicable Diseases Joint Director and Kerala Circle Chief Shaukat Ali said that the district had to be still cautious because the vector intensity was well above average in certain places.

The team, which visited areas including Aruvikutti, Thuravur, Ambalapuzha, Haripad, Kuttanad, Edathua, Vallikkunnu, Thamarakulam, Mavelikara and Chennithala among others, identified areas where the vector intensity was particularly high.

The vector index at Chennithala was 95, which was way above the normal index of 20. Aruvikutti had an index of 84 while Pattanakad showed an index of 70.

Other areas identified because of the high vector incidence included Kuruthikadu, Shaktikulangara, Bharanikavu, Thalavadi, Karthikapally, Cheruthala and Vattiyoor. Cherthala and Kadakarapally, where there was a high index last year, showed comparatively lesser indices and were safe, Dr. Ali said.

"There is a chance that the vector density can go up once the rain is over, so what we have to do is further intensify the ongoing vector control activities. All sources that are possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes have to be cleared. What we understood is that the public here are knowledgeable. But they need an attitudinal change and practice so that the vector intensity is reduced in these areas," he said.

Serum samples of three people - two from Pulinkunnu and one from Thrikkunnapuzha - were collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology in Bangalore to test for possibilities of dengue, chikungunya and DHF, Dr. Ali said. District Medical Officer N.N. Murali, State Virology Institute director Rajan Payyappilly and other team members were present.

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