Fever cases increase in Kerala, death toll reaches 23

Thiruvananthapuram (IANS) | With the death of a woman on Sunday, the death toll due to dengue and rat fever in Kerala has risen to 23 in two weeks. Sujatha (50) of Kodumanchira in Pathanamthitta district died of rat fever at the Kottayam Medical College on Sunday morning, officials said.

Reports say that many people are admitted to hospitals across the state due to various fevers including dengue and rat fever and bacterial infection is also spreading. The state health department has issued instructions to the people not to resort to self-medication and consult a doctor.

At least 877 dengue fever cases have been reported from across the state in a few days.

The local administration has failed to clean water bodies and drains before the monsoon and this has led to an increase in the presence of mosquitoes and rats, spreading infectious diseases.

The commercial capital of Kerala, Kochi is grappling with the issue of waste management with garbage piling up in all areas of the city.

State Health Minister Veena George has asked people working in the fields to wear gloves and shoes to avoid rat bites and consume ‘doxycycline’ tablets once a week.

With the rise in fever cases and death toll in the state, the state health department has launched a mission to bring the fever under control.

–IANS