Thiruvananthapuram: Despite the inadequate rainfall during the current monsoon season, the Kerala Health Department is already actively addressing the rising number of fever-related cases in the state.

With the onset of the Monsoon in Kerala, dengue, H1N1 flu (swine flu), rat fever and other forms of infectious diseases have increased drastically. On Thursday, a Kollam Kottarakara native died of dengue fever, and a 39-year-old from Thiruvananthapuram died due to rat fever. Further, H1N1 flu was confirmed on a 13-year-old boy who died in Malappuram the other day.  

At the same time, three individuals contracted the Zika virus in Veli and Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthapuram. 

In various districts, 335 sought treatment for Dengue fever on Thursday, while the total number of fever cases remained above 13,000 for the second straight day. 

In the previous year, 70 people lost their lives due to rat fever in the state. According to the health department, local self-government bodies failed to plan accordingly to conduct pre-monsoon cleaning and adopt epidemic prevention initiatives. 

Meanwhile, the state will observe dry day for three days from Friday onwards for mosquito eradication drives in schools, public-private offices and homes.