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Epidemics still haunt Alappuzha District
Sajimon P S
First Published : 16 May 2011 03:06:52 AM IST
Last Updated : 16 May 2011 11:49:15 AM IST
ALAPPUZHA: Since 2006, Kerala, especially Alappuzha district, has been witnessing a disturbing spread of epidemics. During the five-year period, no less than 13 Central teams have visited the state to control communicable diseases. Yet no remedy appears to be in sight. According to the Directorate of Health Service (DHS) from 2006 to 2010, 68 Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in the state and six patients died. During the same period, 136,948 chikungunya, 10,206 malaria and 6,431 dengue cases have been reported. As many as 60 people died of malaria and dengue since 2006.
Medical experts in the state are in the opinion that Alappuzha needs a permanent solution from these epidemics which kill the people of the district every year.
?The Central medical teams keep visiting the state only after the outbreaking of epidemics creating huge revenue loss to the state and Central Governments. This should be changed and steps should be taken to control this communicable diseases for ever?, they say.
Former senior deputy director of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr K N Panicker told Express that the investigations by Central Health team are mandatory.
In October 2006, January, June and July 2007, National Institute of Communicable Diseases(NICD), Delhi, team visited Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Ernakulam districts to control Chikungunya. However, they could not make any proper investigation and suggest remedies for a permanent solution.
A team from Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME), Madurai, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune and National Vector Born Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP), Delhi, Defence Department had also visited Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Ernakulam districts to carry out Chikungunya outbreak investigation in 2007 June and July and 2009 June. But they had failed to take any steps to control the disease.
Sajimon P S
First Published : 16 May 2011 03:06:52 AM IST
Last Updated : 16 May 2011 11:49:15 AM IST
ALAPPUZHA: Since 2006, Kerala, especially Alappuzha district, has been witnessing a disturbing spread of epidemics. During the five-year period, no less than 13 Central teams have visited the state to control communicable diseases. Yet no remedy appears to be in sight. According to the Directorate of Health Service (DHS) from 2006 to 2010, 68 Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in the state and six patients died. During the same period, 136,948 chikungunya, 10,206 malaria and 6,431 dengue cases have been reported. As many as 60 people died of malaria and dengue since 2006.
Medical experts in the state are in the opinion that Alappuzha needs a permanent solution from these epidemics which kill the people of the district every year.
?The Central medical teams keep visiting the state only after the outbreaking of epidemics creating huge revenue loss to the state and Central Governments. This should be changed and steps should be taken to control this communicable diseases for ever?, they say.
Former senior deputy director of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr K N Panicker told Express that the investigations by Central Health team are mandatory.
In October 2006, January, June and July 2007, National Institute of Communicable Diseases(NICD), Delhi, team visited Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Ernakulam districts to control Chikungunya. However, they could not make any proper investigation and suggest remedies for a permanent solution.
A team from Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME), Madurai, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune and National Vector Born Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP), Delhi, Defence Department had also visited Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Ernakulam districts to carry out Chikungunya outbreak investigation in 2007 June and July and 2009 June. But they had failed to take any steps to control the disease.
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