Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Climate suits the vector

Staff Reporter

Coastal areas vulnerable

Thiruvananthapuram: The fever pattern in the district has begun to show the predictable increase as intermittent rains continue.

The climatic condition – intermittent showers followed by long spells of sun shine – is quite conducive for the breeding of the vector species which cause both dengue and chikungunya. This has now triggered fears that viral diseases could surface in the coastal areas too, especially in the Poovar and Vizhinjam belt, which has always been vulnerable to vector-borne diseases.

A total of 1,565 cases of viral fever was reported from various parts of the district on Wednesday, out of which 49 cases are suspected to be chikungunya. The total number of chikungunya cases in the district since January has gone up to 294. Most of the new cases reported on Wednesday were from Vellarada.

Three cases of dengue fever, from Kuttamala, Urukunnu and Chirayinkeezh and a case of leptospirosis from Pothencode were also confirmed.

So far the district has reported 87 cases of dengue and 34 cases of leptospirosis. It has now been confirmed by the experts from National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme also that dengue fever is endemic in the district. Since 2003, almost 60 per cent of the total dengue case load in the State is reported from Thiruvananthapuram.

The Army personnel conducted a medical camp at Panniyode on Wednesday, at which 500-odd people turned up. The health administration officials also held discussions with the Corporation on strategies to be adopted for intensive vector control.

While the health officials proposed holding massive health melas in each constituency, the Corporation authorities more keen on acquiring more fogging machines.

Discussions were also held with civic authorities to seek their help in unclogging all drains and preventing rain water stagnation.

Sanitation and source reduction activities are on in full swing. Ten more wards were given Rs. 5,000 each from the National Rural Health Mission for sanitation activities.

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