The Hindu : Kerala News : Vector control units for all districts in Kerala

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Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Vector control units for all districts in Kerala

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vector control units will be started under the Health Department to monitor multiplication of mosquitoes and take control measures in the coming year, said Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy here on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, the Minister said a unit each would be set up in the districts besides one at the State level.

She denied that the department had failed to monitor vector density in Pathanamthitta and other districts this summer and take timely action.

Ms. Sreemathy said the State expected to receive Rs.200 crore as assistance from the Centre before the end of this month for projects proposed to be taken up under a rural health mission.

She claimed that the incidence of viral fever and other diseases was lower this year than those in the previous years. When about 18 lakh cases had been reported in the previous two years, the cases reported so far this year was only 10.66 lakh. This was unlikely to exceed 15 lakh before the end of this year.

She said the total number of deaths of fever patients this year was 89. Only two people had died of dengue fever this year against 35 in 2003. Deaths from leptospirosis were nine this year, whereas 199 persons had died of the disease in 2002. Suspected cases of chikingunya so far this year were 12,421, whereas 70,731 cases had been suspected in 2006.

She said that of the 46 persons who had died in areas hit by fever in Pathanamthitta district, only 30 had fever. Of those with fever, 20 died of other serious ailments, according to preliminary reports. Similar was the case in Kottayam where 30 people died.

She said that though there was still shortage of doctors and conservancy staff, sufficient number of nurses had been posted to all government hospitals. In order to improve the position for cleaning operations, the Ggrade II attendeers engaged on temporary basis wereas being absorbed into regular service. She said that there was no need for discussion of the fever outbreak in the Assembly.

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