Kozhikode: After Nipah and shigella, Kozhikode is in the grip of rat fever (Leptospirosis) and the health department has chalked out a 30-day microplan, starting with a three-week vigil, to tackle the situation.
Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, Health Minister K K Shylaja said the high number of deaths and suspected cases were a serious issue. From August 2 till Monday, 195 suspected cases were reported in Kozhikode district. Out of this, 20 people had died (six of them were confirmed cases of rate fever). “We are collectively doing our best to prevent cases from turning fatal. As per directives, a patient reporting with symptoms will be treated as a suspected case. Health workers should ensure that those who had direct contact with contaminated water took doxycycline," the minister said after attending a meeting of health officials.
“Once the patient starts showing symptoms, do not delay treatment. Taluk hospitals should be equipped to handle the cases, and should be careful enough not to burden the medical college hospital with all the cases. Refer complicated cases to higher hospitals. If the intensity of rain does not come down in the coming three weeks, we should be more vigilant. It is to be ascertained whether those who had taken the medicine had also died," the minister said.
Anticipating a dengue outbreak, district officials had been asked to ensure proper waste management and mosquito control. Chlorination should be ensured at houses with the help of health centres, junior health inspectors and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA). Super-chlorination should be taken up wherever required, she said.
“People who show the symptoms should not resort to self-medication. They should consult a physician. There is no shortage of medicines at present and no patient should be turned away citing shortage," the minister added.
The World Health Organisation and the National Institute of Epidemiology are already conducting studies into the outbreak in the state.
Arun Kumar, head and nodal officer at Manipal Centre for Virus Research, said since it took six to seven days for the antibodies to make their presence felt, people should not wait for lab results to seek treatment.
A recent Nipah outbreak had claimed several lives in the district which was touted to be the most clean district in the state.
