Summer diseases take their toll of Kochi

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There is heightened risk of transmission of H1N1 into Kochi as thousands of Malayali families are coming home from neighbouring states to enjoy their summer vacations.

A significant number of H1N1 or swine flu cases have been reported in neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, increasing the possibility of the influx of the virus into Kochi.

Karnataka and Chennai put together, there’re total 85 confirmed cases of H1N1, of which 59 alone were reported from Bengaluru during the last 3 months.

While 3 persons succumbed to H1N1 in Bengaluru, no casualty was reported from Chennai.

“We’ve raised our safety measures, taking the situation in Chennai and Bengaluru into consideration. We’ll soon start screening people arriving in the city by rail and air,” district medical officer R. Sudhakaran told Deccan Chronicle.

The health officials warn Hepatitis A, E, and H1N1 are the major diseases that spread in summer, primarily due to contaminated water and food.

H1N1 flu had created panic in the state in 2009-10, and health officials do not rule out the possibility of0 its re-surfacing sporadically.

H1N1 is classified into A, B and C – the last needing hospitalisation and isolation.

Medical experts say it can be cured completely with normal drugs and Tami Flu tablets.

“It needs special attention only in the case of vulnerable groups including senior citizens, children and pregnant women,” they caution.

No need to worry, say authorities

With summer peaking, mercury levels are soaring and the district is confronted with the possible outbreak of a number of summer diseases.

District medical authorities, however, say they’re well-equipped to tackle any eventuality.
“We’re already on the job and have taken preventive measures including follow-up action to check the outbreak of summer diseases,” district medical officer Dr R. Sudhakaran told Deccan Chronicle.

Adequate quantity of medicines for summer diseases including H1N1, rat fever, jaundice, chickenpox, and diarrhoea, Sudhakaran said, have been stocked in all government hospitals and primary health centres.

“Our field staff conducts regular awareness programmes for the public by resorting to door-to-door campaign. So, we’re on the guard,” he asserted. Besides, steps have also been initiated to super-chlorinate all the wells in the district.

The DMO has already advised the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to provide pure drinking water round-the-clock, especially in areas like West Kochi notorious for the outbreak of water-borne diseases. “No confirmed case of H1N1 has been reported this summer,” Sudhakaran claimed.

Upping the H1N1 vigil, general hospitals are also sending four samples of throat fluid from suspected patients for testing to the Alappuzha Medical College.

During house-visits, DMO staff have been advised to send patients with suggestive symptoms to the nearest PHC.

Sudhakaran cautioned that pregnant women with H1N1 symptoms should take special care and should approach the hospital immediately. “They belong to a high-risk group and hence the caution,” he said.

Meanwhile, a variety of summer diseases including rat fever, jaundice, hepatitis A, D, E, diarrhoea and chickenpox have been reported from both the rural and city corporation areas including Mattanchery.