JOIN USVector borne disease control committee Chairman and Physician Dr Srinivas Kakkillaya strongly felt the need to provide scientific information on dengue, in order to eliminate the fear among public.
He was speaking at a review meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner on the control of vector borne diseases in the district, held at DC’s Hall in Mangaluru on Friday.
Dr Kakkillaya said there was unnecessary panic among the people about the disease and there is a general perception that the affected must be transfused with platelets. In reality, there is no need of platelet transfusion, unless there is serious bleeding.
But, the hospitals have been conducting platelet tests and carrying transfusion of platelets unnecessarily while there is no indication of platelet infusion in Dengue at all, unless there is massive bleeding.
Despite this information being mentioned in the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) website, the officials concerned are not sharing these details among people.
Stating that the officials concerned should provide official and scientific information to the people, he said that NS1 card test is also not essential for all kinds of fevers.
Mortality is very rare in Dengue. Majority of people will be cured of Dengue, through proper medication and rest. The complications will occur only in a few cases and when the symptoms persist even after the receding of temperature.
He pointed out that the source reduction, which is the main preventive measure, has not been carried out effectively by the district administration. The people can use mosquito repellents to prevent themselves from mosquito bits. Even the locally available organic repellants such as neem oil will help.
The officials informed that in the district, totally 281 people have been tested positive for dengue with four deaths. 1165 suspected cases have been recorded, through NS1 card test and three deaths have occurred.
There have been four deaths from January 2015, till date. More cases found in places where there are rubber plantations.
1065 malaria cases have been recorded in MCC limits this year from January 2015 till date.
Kakkillaya said that though there have been 65 malaria deaths in government Wenlock hospital from 2007 to 2014, only 12 have been reported in the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) website.
District Surgeon Dr Rajeshwari Devi replied that in the cases of malaria patients where the deaths have been occurred due to cardiac arrest and other reasons, the deaths have not been considered as malaria deaths, by NVBDC officials.
Deputy Commissioner directed the district health and family welfare officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao to keep the rapid response team alert and to carry out awareness programmes regularly. MCC Mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred, Zilla Panchayat CEO P I Sreevidya, MCC Commissioner (in-charge) Gokuldas Nayak were present among others.