As the monsoon season approaches,the State is bracing for a surge in infectious diseases,particularly dengue, respiratory illnesses, and water-borne diseases like shigellosis. During a review meeting on Wednesday,Health Minister K. Muraleedharan highlighted concerns about the rising cases,especially in Thiruvananthapuram,known as the dengue capital of the State.
Reports indicate that dengue cases have doubled within a day, with 105 new cases confirmed on Wednesday alone. The districts of Ernakulam, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram reported 32, 19, and 18 cases, respectively. Additionally,two probable dengue-related deaths were noted in Palakkad. This year, State has recorded 3,497 confirmed dengue cases, over 10,000 probable cases,and 16 deaths.
The meeting underscored the impact of the recent Assembly elections, which hindered the full implementation of annual pre-monsoon preventive measures. This delay could have significant repercussions for public health,as the State gears up to combat expected rise in infections.
In response,the Health Department has ramped up its preventive strategies, introducing a “Dry Day” calendar starting this week. Fridays will be designated as Dry Days in schools,Saturdays in government offices, and Sundays for households. This initiative aims to enhance hygiene and sanitation efforts across various sectors.
Food safety officials are tasked with conducting thorough inspections in schools to ensure the safety and hygiene of mid-day meal preparation areas and drinking water sources. District Collectors have been instructed to oversee the effective implementation of these Dry Day activities within their jurisdictions.
Health officials will coordinate sanitation efforts with local self-government institutions, while health inspectors are expected to strengthen field-level inspections. The meeting also addressed the circulation of respiratory infections,including strains of influenza A and B. The public is urged to adhere to respiratory hygiene practices,such as wearing masks and following proper cough etiquette .
Parents are advised not to send children exhibiting fever, cough,or cold symptoms to school. Those attending gatherings, including weddings,should wear masks if they show any respiratory symptoms . Hospital visitors must also comply with mandatory mask-wearing.
Fogging operations will be carried out on days without rainfall to control mosquito populations. To ensure ongoing disease prevention efforts are effective, District Collectors will hold weekly review meetings.
Another concern raised during the meeting was the increasing detection of malaria among migrant workers in the plantation areas of Idukki. The district administration reported that systematic screening of all migrant workers is underway to mitigate this risk.
Key officials in attendance included Principal Secretary (Health) Sharmila Mary Joseph,NHM State Mission Director Anu S. Nair,and other senior health department officials. Their collective efforts aim to bolster the State's defenses against the looming threat of infectious diseases as the monsoon season approaches.
