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Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-...th-endemic-deaths-termed-supernatural/318473/
In UP, measles losing battle to myth, endemic deaths termed supernatural
Maulshree-Seth
Posted online: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 04:18:16
Updated: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 04:18:16
Lucknow, June 03 Even as nearly 1,300 measles cases and 36 related deaths in the last five months have put the Uttar Pradesh Health Department on alert, health workers in the worst affected districts are facing tough resistance from the people.
?There is a strong myth associated with the disease. People call it devi or mata and believe that it is caused due to some supernatural power and is cured in its due time. They even consider that each person must be affected by the disease once in a lifetime,? informed Dr AS Nigam, Joint Director, Communicable Disease wing of UP Health Department. Since people consider it a divine thing, they prefer consulting quacks rather than the doctors, he said.
Notably, though the disease normally affects the people during summers, the cases reported till now are more as compared with earlier years.
?Precisely therefore, we have put the additional directors on alert and have asked them to ensure 100 per cent immunisation by spreading awareness about the disease,? he said.
The worst affected districts include Banda, Mahoba, Gonda, Badaun and Bulandshehar. While maximum number of cases(130) are registered in Mahoba, maximum deaths(8) have been registered in Banda. Experts feel that since it?s a contagious disease, if left unchecked it can turn into an epidemic. Further worse, it can easily target malnourished children of the Bundelkhand region.
Measles vaccination is done under routine immunisation program and interestingly, resistance is reported even in the state capital. On Monday, a team of doctors visited the Faisulaganj area to meet the families and remove their misconceptions related to the disease.
?Even if we give them medicine, they throw it away. We find it hard to convince them that it is a contagious disease and can spread to other kids of their family and neighbourhood,? said Dr Uttar Kumar, district immunisation officer of Lucknow.
In UP, measles losing battle to myth, endemic deaths termed supernatural
Maulshree-Seth
Posted online: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 04:18:16
Updated: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 04:18:16
Lucknow, June 03 Even as nearly 1,300 measles cases and 36 related deaths in the last five months have put the Uttar Pradesh Health Department on alert, health workers in the worst affected districts are facing tough resistance from the people.
?There is a strong myth associated with the disease. People call it devi or mata and believe that it is caused due to some supernatural power and is cured in its due time. They even consider that each person must be affected by the disease once in a lifetime,? informed Dr AS Nigam, Joint Director, Communicable Disease wing of UP Health Department. Since people consider it a divine thing, they prefer consulting quacks rather than the doctors, he said.
Notably, though the disease normally affects the people during summers, the cases reported till now are more as compared with earlier years.
?Precisely therefore, we have put the additional directors on alert and have asked them to ensure 100 per cent immunisation by spreading awareness about the disease,? he said.
The worst affected districts include Banda, Mahoba, Gonda, Badaun and Bulandshehar. While maximum number of cases(130) are registered in Mahoba, maximum deaths(8) have been registered in Banda. Experts feel that since it?s a contagious disease, if left unchecked it can turn into an epidemic. Further worse, it can easily target malnourished children of the Bundelkhand region.
Measles vaccination is done under routine immunisation program and interestingly, resistance is reported even in the state capital. On Monday, a team of doctors visited the Faisulaganj area to meet the families and remove their misconceptions related to the disease.
?Even if we give them medicine, they throw it away. We find it hard to convince them that it is a contagious disease and can spread to other kids of their family and neighbourhood,? said Dr Uttar Kumar, district immunisation officer of Lucknow.