teady increase in incidence of epidemics in Thrissur, which is home to three medical colleges and a medical university, is disquieting health authorities in the district.
For the first time, a case of Kala Azar (black fever) has been reported. Number of people who sought treatment for fever was over 20,000 in the month of August alone. According to the statistics available with the District Health Department, 23,711 people were infected with viral fever in the last month. In all 1,62,146 fever cases have been reported in the district so far this year.
There were 89 reported cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in the district this year. Of this, eight persons died. The number of cases reported in August was 13, including two deaths.
Leptospirosis is also a matter of concern as 24 cases were reported in August. The number of cases in the year was 43. The comeback of diseases like malaria and filariasis, which were officially eradicated several years ago, is also weakening the health status of the district. So far 72 cases of malaria have been reported in this year. Of these 10 cases were reported in the month of August.
The situation in the district, which had a decent health record in the past, changed in spite of the improvement in healthcare facilities.
The health department has been on constant alert against outbreak of epidemics, said District Medical Officer K. Suhita. “High risk areas have been identified. Regular vector control measures have been done. Regular monitoring has been continuing in the area from where Kala Azar was reported,” she said.
The health officials attribute the re-emergence of eradicated diseases such as malaria to the large number of migrant population in the district. They noted that most of the malaria cases were identified among migrant workers from north Indian states of Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal. Of late, filariasis and leprosy cases have also been reported from the migrant labour camps.
Appalling living conditions at the labour camps put the migrant labourers at high risk of epidemics. Lack of basic amenities and poor sanitary conditions around their camps make them susceptible to attack of mosquitoes and other disease carrying vectors.
While 153 dengue cases have been reported so far in the year, 47 were reported in August alone. In all, 170 jaundice cases and 34,930 diarrhoea cases were also reported this year. The number of cases reported for other epidemics this year, include mumps (355), chicken pox (788) and measles (63).
High risk areas have been identified. Regular vector control measures have been done, says district medical officer.
