Kannur: Kerala is facing an outbreak of 11 infectious diseases, spread through air, water, mosquitoes, and mites. In just the first 10 days of July, 1.45 lakh patients have sought treatment in the government hospitals of the state with even more in number getting treated in private hospitals. The number of patients arriving at government hospitals exceeds 17,000 per day.
The most common infections are caused by influenza A viruses. Districts like Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thrissur, and Kozhikode have reported the highest number of cases. Diseases like dengue fever, rat fever, and jaundice caused by hepatitis A virus also pose serious threats.
The capital city of Thiruvananthapuram has been grappling with cholera outbreaks. People with conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, and the elderly, children and pregnant women are advised to take extra precautions against these infectious diseases.
Three major concerns
This year, Kerala has confirmed 9,214 cases of dengue fever, resulting in 22 deaths. There are 24,876 suspected cases with 55 suspected deaths.
Confirmed cases of rat fever stand at 1,248 with 67 deaths, while suspected cases number 1,087 with 70 suspected deaths. Jaundice has affected 3,213 individuals, claiming 224 lives. Suspected jaundice cases are at 9,892 with 22 suspected deaths.
Current epidemics
Airborne: Influenza A viruses, including H1N1.
Mosquito-borne: Dengue fever, West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis, malaria (mostly in migrant workers).
Contaminated water and food: Hepatitis A causing jaundice, cholera, typhoid, shigella.
Through sewage: Rat fever.
Mite-borne: Scrub typhus.
Alert for jaundice
Jaundice caused by Hepatitis A is spreading alarmingly with 13,105 confirmed and suspected cases reported by the government alone. The disease has claimed 46 lives. Experts warn that the severity of jaundice is unusually high this time, affecting many severely.
Severity warning
According to Dr. KT Shenoy, Gastroenterologist at Sree Gokulam Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, up to three percent of adults may experience severe jaundice, requiring hospitalisation. About 1 in 100 patients may not survive. Given that 50 percent of Kerala's population has fatty liver, which affects liver health, the risk of severe jaundice is heightened in these cases.
Published: 12 Jul 2024, 08:33 am IST
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