Thiruvananthapuram: The Union Ministry of Health has issued a stern warning to the state of Kerala to tackle the surge in infectious diseases as cases of dengue fever and rat fever continue to rise. In a letter addressed to Kerala, the ministry has emphasised the need for utmost caution and strengthened surveillance measures to prevent the further spread of these diseases.
The situation in Kerala has drawn comparisons to the outbreak experienced in 2017, raising concerns among health officials and the general public alike. In response to the alarming rise in infectious diseases, the Union Health Secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, has directed the state to take immediate preventive measures.
The letter highlights the need for a comprehensive and focused approach to dealing with the current health crisis. The arrival of patients with fever exhibiting new symptoms has heightened apprehension among healthcare workers, necessitating a special study on fever prevalence and mortality rates in the state.
Over the past ten days, Kerala has witnessed over one lakh people being affected by fever. Contributing to the problem is the lack of pre-monsoon cleaning, which has led to the formation of stagnant water bodies in several areas. These bodies of water have become breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, leading to an increase in dengue fever cases.
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