Meningitis wrecks havoc in Meghalaya
http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=131551
Saidul Khan, 01 April 2008, Tuesday
An outbreak of a disease is the worst possible nightmare that any state government can envision. With lack of awareness the deadly disease could create havoc. Health authorities can do little if the sources to help are not sufficient.
.
IN AN unprecedented seasonal outbreak in Meghalaya, at least 38 people have died due to meningitis in the last few days. Most of the death has been reported from the remote Garo Hills area. This has put pressure on the state health authorities to speed up its measures to combat the disease.
Almost every year with the onset of summer, the outbreak of seasonal diseases is reported from Garo Hills district. The lack of people in understanding the disease and the backwardness of the area has led to the killing of many patients in the remote areas. The death due to Meningococcal Meningitis has been received from areas around Rongjeng, Songsak and Mangsang in East Garo Hills district. To combat the spread of the disease the health department has intensified its surveillance activities. Rapid Response Team is at the spot to investigate the matter.
The blood sample is being tested to confirm the death due to meningitis. Some samples have also been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), New Delhi. So far four cases are confirmed death. However, the other death were shown symptoms of the disease which could not be confirmed by the health authorities, though it has been officially announced.
Garo Hills district have seen various epidemic over the years. In the last two year more than 200 official malarial deaths have been reported. The worst affected places are in the Indo-Bangla border areas. Malaria has been termed a number one killer disease in Meghalaya. In the worst epidemic in Garo Hills in May 2007, 18 people were killed in a week in Purakhasia alone, due to malaria. The area, which is close to the Indo-Bangla border, has seen such death for the last several years. Awareness programs are also in progress and anti malarial medicines have been kept in sufficient stock to meet the emergency needs. Series of meetings at the district levels is underway and the department is making ways to prevent it from the spreading further.
http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=131551
Saidul Khan, 01 April 2008, Tuesday
An outbreak of a disease is the worst possible nightmare that any state government can envision. With lack of awareness the deadly disease could create havoc. Health authorities can do little if the sources to help are not sufficient.
.
IN AN unprecedented seasonal outbreak in Meghalaya, at least 38 people have died due to meningitis in the last few days. Most of the death has been reported from the remote Garo Hills area. This has put pressure on the state health authorities to speed up its measures to combat the disease.
Almost every year with the onset of summer, the outbreak of seasonal diseases is reported from Garo Hills district. The lack of people in understanding the disease and the backwardness of the area has led to the killing of many patients in the remote areas. The death due to Meningococcal Meningitis has been received from areas around Rongjeng, Songsak and Mangsang in East Garo Hills district. To combat the spread of the disease the health department has intensified its surveillance activities. Rapid Response Team is at the spot to investigate the matter.
The blood sample is being tested to confirm the death due to meningitis. Some samples have also been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), New Delhi. So far four cases are confirmed death. However, the other death were shown symptoms of the disease which could not be confirmed by the health authorities, though it has been officially announced.
Garo Hills district have seen various epidemic over the years. In the last two year more than 200 official malarial deaths have been reported. The worst affected places are in the Indo-Bangla border areas. Malaria has been termed a number one killer disease in Meghalaya. In the worst epidemic in Garo Hills in May 2007, 18 people were killed in a week in Purakhasia alone, due to malaria. The area, which is close to the Indo-Bangla border, has seen such death for the last several years. Awareness programs are also in progress and anti malarial medicines have been kept in sufficient stock to meet the emergency needs. Series of meetings at the district levels is underway and the department is making ways to prevent it from the spreading further.