Kerala: Rat fever death toll rises amid Cholera

KOZHIKODE: Amidst health authorities’ all-out attempts to tackle the spread of leptospirosis - rat fever- in the region, the epidemic claimed two more lives in the district  on Wednesday. The deceased are Savithri, 72, hailing from West Hill in Kozhikode and Vellakachathan, 35, of Nellipoil Pathippara Colony, near Kodenchery. Creating more problems for the health authorities, cholera outbreak is also confirmed from Payimbra of the Kuruvattoor village in the district. Janaki, 76, was hospitalised after being diagnosed with cholera on Wednesday.Deputy DMO Dr Appunni said that  after cholera was confirmed, health authorities had taken steps to check the spread of the disease further. “Health workers have visited Payambra and the adjacent areas and carried out mass preventive measures like chlorinating the wells and awareness programmes,” he said. On Wednesday, 519 fever cases were reported from various parts of the district. As many as 18 patients have been admitted in various hospitals owing to fever. As many as 22 deaths due to leptospirosis were reported from the district during the past two weeks and 24 patients are undergoing treatment at the Medical College.In the wake of epidemic spread, Health Minister Adoor Prakash convened a meeting at the Collectorate on Thursday to discuss the situation and to coordinate the works of various agencies in tackling the disease. Apart from the Minister, the meeting will be attended by the Medical College Principal, District Medical Officers from the Malabar region, Medical Supervisors and Health Department officers. “In fact, the number of fever cases being reported in the district is on the decline. But, in the last two weeks after the rain stopped, leptospirosis has started to spread in the district. In the Medical College, we have made all the necessary arrangements for treating the patients. More dialysis units will function in the hospital. Doctors from the Community medicine will also visit various places in the region,” said C Raveendran, Medical College Principal.