The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Fever situation remains grim

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Saturday, Jul 14, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Fever situation remains grim

Staff Reporter

2,979 viral fever cases reported in district

2 chikungunya, 4 dengue fever cases confirmed
Three medical camps held

Thiruvananthapuram: The district health administration organised three medical camps on Friday following reports that viral fever with more severe symptoms had surfaced in many parts of the district.

The camps, which included doctors from the Ayurveda and homoeo medicine systems, were held at Aanakudy, near Vamanapuram panchayat, Poovachal in Kattakkada panchayat and Thattathumala in Kesavapuram.

Though a total of 1,412 persons attended these camps, the number of fever cases was just 46.

The camp at Aanakudy saw maximum attendance, while the other two camps recorded fewer people.

Doctors who led the camp at Poovachal grama panchayat said most of those who attended had had viral fever before and were already under some kind of treatment.

The first confirmed case of chikungunya in the district had been reported from Veeranakavu in the panchayat. Though fever cases had been reported in large numbers from all 21 wards in the panchayat, cases have come down drastically.

Nearly 30 medical camps, including those conducted by the army medical teams, had been held at Poovachal since the outbreak of viral fever. Fresh cases of fever were fewer now and though some people did report mild skin lesions and mouth ulcers, these had been contained quickly through medication, the panchayat authorities said.

Almost all of those who came to the medical camp were suffering from chronic arthralgia, an after-effect of chikungunya, which could persist from three to eight months.

Patients were advised proper rest for at least two weeks so that they could recover faster from the post-chikungunya ailments. However, most of the people here were daily wage earners who could not afford to stay away from work for long.

Many of those who went back to work soon after the initial bout of fever, suspected to be chikungunya, reported intermittent fever episodes.

Chikungunya cases

A total of 2,979 new viral fever cases were reported in the district on Friday. Cases were reported in large numbers from Palode, Vithura, Vellarada, Nedumangad, Attingal, Chirayinkeezh and Parassala.

Though the number of viral fever cases continues to be high, the number of suspected chikungunya cases has come down drastically. Fifteen suspected cases of chikungunya were reported in the district on Friday from Perumkadavila, Vellarada and Attingal.

Two cases of chikungunya were confirmed at Aanakudy and Aryanad.

Four cases of dengue fever were confirmed from Vellarada, Kallara, Uzhamalakkal and one of the Corporation wards.

With this, the total number of dengue fever cases in the district has gone up to162.

One case of leptospirosis was confirmed at Balaramapuram and one case of malaria at Valiathura.

Since January, 53 cases of leptospirosis and 83 cases of malaria have been reported in the district.

The malaria case at Valiathura, which was imported from Colachel in Tamil Nadu, belongs to the virulent and dangerous strain of the virus, Plasmodium falciparum. The health officials said fogging and spraying activities had been int ensified in the Valiathura and Pozhiyoor areas so that the disease did not spread.

Medical camps will continue in the district on Saturday also.

DMO gheraoed

A group of Nationalist Congress Party activists barged into the office of the District Medical Officer (DMO) on Friday and gheraoed the DMO, Kumari G. Prema. They were protesting against the contractual appointment orders given to doctors who were already in the Health Service to work another shift.

The protestors were arrested and removed by the police.

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