Dengue fever spreading in Kerala with the onset of monsoon; 8 deaths so far

Thiruvananthapuram: There has been a rise in the number of dengue fever cases in Kerala ever since the onset of monsoon. Reports for the month of June up to 13 suggest that 1,369 people have sought treatment for the disease so far, and 8 deaths were reported as well. 

Figures of the health department indicate that 8,705 people have been affected by dengue fever in the state since January, and 19 fatalities were reported so far. The rise in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes due to water stagnation has been cited as the major reason for the spread of dengue. To add on to this, effective pre monsoon cleanliness drives were not conducted in many places, further worsening the situation. High fever, headache, joint pain, and vomiting are the major symptoms of the disease. If timely treatment is not taken, the disease can be fatal. As per the reports coming in now, over 250 people are seeking treatment for dengue in the state, every day. At present, a maximum number of cases are being reported in Ernakulam and Kollam districts.

On Tuesday (May 13), out of the total 63 people who were diagnosed with dengue in the state, 21 were from Ernakulam. Similarly, a major chunk of the cases were reported in Ernakulam in the previous week as well. 

Inorder to prevent mosquito borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya, the breeding regions of such mosquitoes shall be tactfully identified and destroyed. It is important to keep your home and surroundings clean as well. 

Similarly, special care should be taken by manual laborers and children to avoid getting infected with leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease. 

Meanwhile, a high level meeting of health care professionals, chaired by minister Veena George, was convened at the state capital, in order to assess the preparations for tackling monsoon diseases.