One more dies of rat fever in Kerala

 A 65-year-old man has died of recent outbreak of rat fever in Kerala on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Raman hailing from Kasargod, sources said.

He was undergoing treatment at the Pariyaram Medical college hospital. The health authorities have urged the people to boil water before drinking, to consume food when it is hot, to keep their houses and surroundings clean and to dispose of garbage properly.

As any fever can be dengue fever and leptospirosis, those with fever have been asked to consult doctors immediately. The people have been asked to avoid outdoor food to curb the outbreak of Jaundice.

Dengue has the symptoms of sudden high fever and severe headache, pain behind the eyes and nausea. The Health Services director has warned against washing and bathing in murky waters and has instructed the use of gloves and socks for animal caretakers and agricultural workers to prevent the spread of rat fever.

They have also been directed to take a weekly preventive medicine, which is available at the primary health centres, free of cost. The symptoms of rat fever are high fever, headache, body ache, red eyes and muscle cramps.

The preventive measures aimed at mosquito control include destruction of mosquito breeding spots such as broken vessels, bottles, coconut shells, tyre, garden pots, sheaths of plants, hollows of trees and even the coconut shells used for collecting rubber latex, which will collect water in them.

To prevent the spread of epidemics, patients are advised to use handkerchiefs while coughing and sneezing.

CPI-M led LDF opposition on Tuesday staged a walkout in the Kerala assembly protesting against government’s “failure” to check spread of various types of viral fever, including leptospirosis that had claimed 179 lives so far.

Lack of medicines and shortage of doctors in government hospitals have led to this serious situation, former Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac said while seeking leave for an adjournment motion on the matter.

Issac said more than 300 persons have died of various viral infections in the state in the last few months and about 10,000 people were suffering from fever in the state.

The worst affected districts were Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam and Kottayam, he said. Intervening in the matter, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government viewed the situation very seriously and steps had been taken to fill vacancies of doctors in hospitals.

Steps have been taken to ensure required quantity of medicines in hospitals, he added.

Replying to the motion, Health Minister Adoor Prakash said 179 persons have died of fever in the state till date since January. Cases of dengue, hepatitis and gastroenteritis were also reported, he said.

Admitting that the situation had not been completely under control, Prakash said the government was able to check the spread of the disease due to the steps initiated by it.

Speaker G Karthikeyan refused leave for the motion after the reply of health minister and chief minister.

Before walking out, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said it was the inept handling of the situation by the health department that had led to the present serious problem.