Kerala: Fever cases on the rise

[Ronan Kelly]

Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Staff Reporter

Shortage of doctors reported at government hospitals


KOLLAM: Thousands of people are reporting sick at hospitals in the district complaining of fever. Recent reports of influenza A (H1N1) deaths across the State have added tension among those who had contracted fever.

On Sunday about 900 outpatient tickets for fever cases were issued at the Kollam District Hospital, which crossed 1,000 on Monday. There was heavy rush of patients at the five taluk hospitals in the district.
The rush at the Karunagapally, Kottarakara and Punalur taluk hospitals were similar to the one seen in Kollam.

Even as the situation remains critical, there is a grave shortage of doctors at government hospitals which are relied upon by the majority of the patients.

Sources associated with the Health Department said the transfer of government doctors at such a stage had only aggravated the situation. They said unfilled vacancies of casualty doctors at almost all government hospitals was also a problem.

At many hospitals, doctors attending to outpatients had been directed to report for casualty duty.

Sources said this had worsened the situation, especially at the Kollam District Hospital and the Karunagapally Taluk Hospital.

The casualty sections at these hospitals function as separate wing in view of the frequent road accidents in these areas. Though these hospitals each has four posts of casualty doctors, two vacancies are vacant for the past two years at both the hospitals. Patients going to government hospitals say they have to wait for hours to meet the doctor. They are forced to rely on government hospitals as the charges levied at private hospitals are high.

Testing centre

The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, the only institute in the State qualified to test and identify influenza A (H1N1), when contacted, informed that they are receiving at least 20 cases daily from Thiruvananthauram and Kollam districts, most of which have been tested positive.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/08/stories/2010060854130300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Steps to check fever outbreak

Special Correspondent

Local self-governments to undertake week-long campaign

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to intensify efforts to contain the outbreak of contagious fever and other diseases in the State.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told the media after Wednesday's Cabinet meeting that the government would take strong preventive measures including mosquito control to check the outbreak.

When reporters invited his attention to the Health Minister's statement that the media were exaggerating the incidence of various contagious diseases, the Chief Minister said that with intermittent rains, the incidence of various diseases had gone up.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the local self-governments would undertake a week-long drive with public participation for mosquito-control and removal of waste materials. Meetings would be held at the panchayat and municipal levels to organise the drive.

The government was also directing health inspectors and public health nurses to concentrate on preventive measures. They would be exempted from other duties.

BJP demand

Meanwhile, the BJP State unit blamed the Health Minister for recurrent occurrence of contagious diseases in the State over the past four years and demanded the Chief Minister's intervention.

Party spokesman George Kurian said in a statement here that the number of people dying from contagious fever was increasing day by day. Thousands of people were suffering. However, the Health Minister was trying to save her skin by blaming the media.

Mr. Kurian said the government had totally failed to take preventive steps before the onset of the monsoon. Action should be taken on a war-footing to treat the patients and contain the spread of the diseases.

As the Health Minister had failed in health care, the Chief Minister should intervene directly, he added.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/10/stories/2010061052280300.htm

Fogging intensified in Wayanad



A Correspondent







Wayanad: District Medical Officer Neetha Vijayan on Wednesday said all possible measures were taken to check the spread of epidemics in the district.

At a press conference at the Collectorate conference hall on Wednesday, she said as mosquitoes were the major vectors in epidemics such as chikungunya, malaria and dengue fever, mosquito eradication programmes, like fogging, had been intensified.

The Health Department had taken measures to check chikungunya from spreading in the district in the wake of a case reported at Meenangadi panchayat recently.

Awareness programmes were being held to sensitise people on the importance of keeping environment clean and healthy, she added.

A mobile medical unit, five medical units and a rapid response team had been set up to meet any emergency, the DMO said. As many as 839 Asha workers had been engaged in source reduction activities.

A filaria survey unit and a vector control unit had started functioning in the district. Four active case searches were conducted at four panchayats, where dengue fever and chikungunya were reported, Dr. K.S. Ajayakumar, District Surveillance Officer (DSO), said.

As many as 10 cases of rat fever, 16 cases of malaria, four cases of dengue fever and a chikungunya case have been reported in the district so far this year, he added.

Collector T.Bhaskaran said as part of intensifying source reduction activities, a coordination committee would be constituted.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/10/stories/2010061059600300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Kerala - Kochi

Monsoon-related diseases on the rise


Staff Reporter


1,378 cases of viral fever reported so far in Ernakulam district

Ninety-nine cases of diarrhoea reported so far

Hospitals gear up to face challenges arising out of H1N1 infections


KOCHI: The number of viral fever cases reported by the District Medical Office on Thursday was 1,378 for the entire district. Although over a thousand cases are reported every day, the number of fever cases with likely symptoms of any of the notified four fever types are usually less than one percent, said R. Sudhakaran, Deputy Medical Officer.

The number of fever cases reported last week had varied from below 500 to about 1,000. About 99 cases of diarrhoea have been reported from the district.

Every panchayat and municipality would observe a weekly dry day, during which stagnant water collected in open containers, coconut shells or unused tyres would be emptied. People's participation in these activities is most important, said Dr. Sudhakaran.

The message is being passed on to households through school children by making announcements during the school assembly regarding monsoon diseases and the precautions that needs to be taken by each citizen.

Dr. Sudhakaran, who was the nodal offer in the district when H1N1 threat was at its peak last year, said that the threat of Influenza A H1N1 reappearing during the monsoon season persists.

Workers vaccinated

The Health authorities have vaccinated the health workers in government and some private hospitals are gearing up to provide care for primary H1N1 infections.

Little Flower Hospital in Angamaly, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolencherry Medical College and Co-operative Medical College were asked to keep isolated beds to admit any such case. Enough medicines have been stocked, he said.

Four cases of dengue fever were reported in the first week of the month in the district for which the Health authorities have stepped up precautions, said Dr. Sudhakaran. Though there have been no reports of chikungunya and leptospirosis, the precautionary measures are being carried out.
Typhoid, Hepatitis A and diarrhoea are some of monsoon diseases against which the public needs to be aware of, said the doctor. Unhygienic and contaminated food should be avoided to ward off any infections. Drinking unsafe water from outside increases the chance of diseases.

Personal hygiene and healthy habits need to be maintained to keep away these diseases.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/11/stories/2010061160780300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Kerala - Alappuzha

Fever: media urged not to create panic among public

Staff Reporter
?No fever death in Alappuzha district so far this year'


?Floating dispensary in Kuttanad well-equipped'

835 out-patient cases of diarrhoeal diseases: DMO


ALAPPUZHA: District Medical Officer K.M. Sirabudin has said that the fear generated by media reports on the fever situation in the State could create more fever cases, since fear was known to be one of the possible causes of fever.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Sirabudin said it appeared that the media was celebrating fever cases with certain sections of the media even twisting facts.

He cited a report in a couple of vernacular newspapers, which termed the death of one Raghavan Pillai, 81, of Chunakara here, on Wednesday as one caused by fever. However, the family of the deceased and the doctors who visited his home had confirmed that he had died due to age-related ailments.

Geographic reasons

The DMO, who said that there was nothing for the official machinery to hide, said the fever incidence in Alappuzha should be attributed to geographical reasons. The district has a population density of 940 persons per square kilometre as against the State's ratio of 600 persons per square km, he said. Further, there was no proper disposal of garbage. He blamed indiscriminate dumping of plastic and e-waste and urbanisation as well for the fever.

Rapid response teams

The district health wing was taking precautionary measures and was prepared to hold medical camps wherever necessary. The floating dispensary in Kuttanad too was well-equipped.

Rapid Response Teams were constituted, ASHA volunteers were deputed and the entire official machinery was on a high alert, he said.

At the same time, the DMO said 4,040 persons with viral fever had approached the Alappuzha General Hospital and other primary health centres from June 1 to Wednesday.

As many as 242 persons were hospitalised. This was against the 12,300 viral fever cases reported in these centres in May.

There were five officially confirmed leptospirosis cases with no deaths while there were seven officially confirmed dengue fever cases, also with no deaths apart from A (H1N1) fever case.
There were 835 out-patient cases for diarrhoeal diseases, 78 of which were admitted. All of these were reported in the first nine days of June, he said, adding that there were no fever deaths in the district so far.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/11/stories/2010061159940300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Don?t shoot the messenger

The New Indian ExpressFirst Published : 12 Jun 2010 11:28:00 PM ISTLast Updated : 11 Jun 2010 11:40:22 PM IST

Kerala health minister P K Srimathi has blamed the media for creating what she calls a ?fever scare? in the state. She has quoted some figures to claim that the so-called ?epidemic of fever? is a figment of the imagination of journalists. But reports from districts belie her claim as almost all hospitals ? government and private ? have been witnessing a heavy rush of patients complaining of high fever, cough and nasal and chest congestions. There have also been some deaths of patients who complained of high fever and a few confirmed cases of H1N1. Chickengunia and dengue cases have also been reported, causing grave concern to the people.


Nobody, other than politicians like Kerala Congress leader R Balakrishna Pillai, has so far blamed the state health department for the present situation. The advent of monsoon usually brings with it diseases like cold and fever in a virulent form. Whether what the state is witnessing is fever in an epidemic form cannot be said with certainty, given the lack of sufficient relevant data. Needless to say, it is the duty of the media to report about any unusual health situations. But to construe it as an attack on the health department is to miss the wood for the trees. Reports that instructions have been issued to government hospitals not to admit patients complaining of fever and thereby reduce the number of such patients do not show the government in a good light. In fact, it only exposes Srimathi as an irresponsible minister, who is more bothered about her own image, rather than the health of the common people.

Instead of shooting the messenger ? in this case, the media ? the minister should take whatever steps are necessary to contain the epidemic before it goes out of control. Government hospitals have to be equipped with necessary medicines and the staff encouraged to go out of the way, if necessary, to help people suffering from such diseases, seasonal or otherwise. Facilities for testing and confirming H1N1 cases do not exist in many areas, and where facilities for treatment of such patients are, naturally enough, minimal. In the absence of proper diagnosis, doctors are compelled to resort to symptomatic treatment. Instead of training her guns at the media, the health minister should do everything possible to keep the public health system in Kerala the envy of the whole nation as it used to be once.

http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/editorials/don’t-shoot-the-messenger/180845.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Kerala - Kochi

1,264 fever cases reported

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Total fever cases reported on Tuesday are 1,264. Of this 101 patients were admitted as In-Patient at various government hospitals. So far this season, 15 H1N1 and 46 dengue fever cases have been reported in the district, said Dr. R. Sudhakaran, district medical officer in-charge
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/16/stories/2010061662350300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Fever under control in district, say officials

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 16 Jun 2010 03:32:07 AM ISTLast Updated : 16 Jun 2010 11:10:34 AM IST

KOCHI: As viral fever is spreading across Kerala, the district medical authorities have claimed that they are taking all necessary steps to ensure that the fever was contained.


However, much more needs to be done as more people are succumbing to the viral attack. The district authorities said the situation was under control and there was no cause for alarm regarding the epidemics.

On Tuesday, 1,163 fever cases, including six cases of dengue fever, one case of leptospirosis (rat fever), and three H1N1 cases were reported from the district.
A total of 15 H1N1 cases have been reported in the district so far. However, the actual statistics for viral fever could be much higher than these figures, as most private hospitals have recorded a notable increase in the number of fever cases. However, private hospitals have reported only slight increase in the number of other epidemic fevers. The District Medical Office has organised medical camps across the district to contain the fever. Field workers will be deployed in rural areas to create awareness on viral fever.

Mobile medical teams have been deployed in some areas. The emergency clinics at government and taluk hospitals will work 24/7. And, the rapid response team will be deployed to take care of any emergency. Awareness programmes for private hospitals are also being taking up. As a part of this, an H1N1 management class for doctors from private hospitals will be held at the General Hospital on June 18. Additional District Medical Officer Dr Sudhakaran said all steps have been taken to contain the spread of viral fever.
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/fever-under-control-in-district-say-officials/181974.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise in Kollam

Kattappana

Viral fever: 53 rapid response teams set up in Idukki

A Correspondent
Hospitals equipped to meet any eventuality
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8,061 cases of viral fever reported this year

?Precautionary steps taken in estate lanes

of Peerumade'

KATTAPPANA: The Health Department has set up rapid response teams in 53 primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) in the district to counter the spread of viral diseases and other epidemics.

A special team with experts from the Kottayam Medical College will evaluate the action taken and the kind of diseases spreading in various areas, in addition to the measures needed to streamline the supply of medicines.

Talking to The Hindu on the steps taken to counter the spread of monsoon-related diseases, District Medical Officer Siby Thomas said that awareness campaigns and mosquito eradication steps like fogging has been intensified in areas prone to the spread of viral diseases.

Compared to the same period last year, the total viral fever cases has gone up with 8,061 cases reported from January till June 15 this year.

The total dengue fever cases reported so far this year is 94. Seventeen cases of leptospirosis were reported?five cases in May and six cases during the first half of June. Eighteen cases of Malaria, contracted from outside the State, were also reported. Only one case of H1N1 disease was reported so far this year. During the same period last year, 53 cases of H1N1 fever with two casualties were reported.

According to the DMO, mobile medical units have been set up in nine CHCs and funds allotted to conduct camps at the ward-level.

There has been a high incidence of mosquito-spread diseases in Thodupuzha taluk and fogging operations have been intensified there. Similar cases have also been reported from Upputhara and Kanchiyar areas also.

The taluk hospitals in Adimaly and Nedumkandam and the district hospital at Painavu are equipped with facilities and enough medicines to provide emergency treatment in case of a major epidemic outbreak.

Health officer S. Shanmughavel said that the mobile medical units in ward-levels have been of great help to the people in rural areas. He said that all precautionary steps had been taken in the estate lanes in Peerumade taluk to prevent the spread of viral diseases.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/17/stories/2010061756000300.htm

 

[Roehl_JC]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following a spurt in H1N1 deaths in Kerala during the pre-monsoon season, a team of experts from the Centre visited hospitals in the state capital and met senior officials on Wednesday.

According to official statistics, 17 people have died of H1N1 in about a month and another 201 people have been diagnosed with the disease. Most of the victims are pregnant women. The state has sought one lakh doses of the vaccine for pregnant women.

The Central team included Sunil Gupta, joint director (microbiology), National Centre for Disease Control and Dr Pradeep of Emergency Medical Services and the relief division of the Directorate General of Health Services.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...a-month-shocks-Kerala/articleshow/6056893.cms

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise

714 viral fever cases in Pathanamthitta
Staff Reporter

84 dengue cases reported from district

Suspected cases of malaria reported


PATHANAMTHITTA: As many as 714 viral fever cases have been reported from various government health care centres in the district on Monday.

Official sources said a total of 84 dengue fever cases had been reported from the district till Sunday.

A majority of the dengue cases had been reported from places with a large number of rubber plantations. Mosquito density in these places was reportedly high.

The district recorded a death from A(H1N1) recently, besides two other suspected cases of the infection, the sources said.

There were reports of Hepatitis-A infection spreading in the hilly tracts of Kalanjoor and surrounding areas. Suspected cases of malaria have also been reported from parts of the district, the sources said.

Mosquito source-reduction campaigns by local self-government institutions were yet to pick up momentum in many parts of the district, they added.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/22/stories/2010062256860300.htm